NEST Interview: Scribble Nation

Name: Mary Helen & Michelle (B.F.F.'s!!)

Shop Name: Scribble Nation

If you have your own web site – list it here too: Mary Helen's blog

Where are you located? Southwestern, CT (Danbury & Sandy Hook)

How did you end up in New England?
Mary Helen: I was born in Maine to a couple of wayward fish-folk. Later on, we moved to Yonkers, New York to taste the finer things of life. A few years later the wind swept us one state over and we settled in Connecticut, where I've spent most of my life.

Michelle: Born and raised by parents who were born and raised by their parents who were born and raised.

How did you hear about Etsy?

Mary Helen: I found out about Etsy through one of my all-time favorite websites, Craftster.org.

Michelle: Mary!

What do you make? Why do you make them? (what's your inspiration) How did you learn to do it?

Mary Helen: The inspiration for Scribble Nation comes from the cockles of our creative organs. Michelle and I are both compulsive crafters. I find that the I am happiest when I am creating, and not worrying about what will or won't sell. I make what I feel like making when I feel like making it. Scribble Nation is more like an adoption agency to me than a shop. I can't keep all of this stuff myself - so I'm happy to see my crafts find good homes.

My mom was born and raised uber-crafty and when my three sisters and I were growing up she made our clothes, our toys, she baked bread, the whole shebang. We couldn't help but pick up a thing or two. Each of us ended up crafty. For me, it's an obsession. I live to learn new crafts, I am always on the lookout for new things to try out.

Next on the chopping block is making glass beads. I just got my blow torch and I am psyched! The next big thing you can expect on Scribble Nation is Michelle's gloriously cute collection of cocktail hats. We'd like to release the first batch together. We're hoping to get them online in September.

Michelle: I make everything, whatever I can get my hands on. My inspiration? Whatever inspires me! LOL! Scribble Nation allows me to make whatever I happen to feel like making or dabbling in. I learned how to craft from mom, friends, art school and myself.

Something, a tip? Motto?, you've learned about your craft, selling online or at fairs you'd like to share with the world.

Mary Helen: Never ever stop crafting. I totally believe in "creative inertia". If you don't keep creating you lose momentum and it gets harder to create. The end result doesn't even really matter as long as you never stop making things. Don't be discouraged by the occasional flop or disaster. Even the best artists have to create piles of mediocre work before getting to a masterpiece. Besides, you can always practice and get better at something. Hard work almost always guarantees a better result but what you can't guarantee are ideas. You can't count on creativity to be there when you need it if you've left it in the back shed for the past six months. And you can't put a price on imagination so BUST that stash and USE your materials. Don't wait around for inspiration or that "perfect" project - make your own.

Michelle: You never know what people will like so dabble in everything.

Are you a vendor at any upcoming shows/events? Are you teaching any classes?

Mary Helen: We are going to attempt our first craft fairs this year - but we haven't nailed down any solid dates yet. It's a little scary, but I bet we'll rock that Mary Helen: We are going to attempt our first craft fairs this year - but we haven't nailed down any solid dates yet. It's a little scary, but I bet we'll rock that $&!%.


What's the difference between Art & Craft? Which are you?

Michelle: Do I have to decide? I am a crafty artist!

Mary Helen: To me they are one in the same. Anytime you create something from nothing it is art - because there is a piece of you in it regardless of whether it is one of a kind or straight from a pattern. And if you are an artist at heart, forget it. I can't make a sandwich without putting my own spin on things.

Favorite midnight snack? Comfort food?

Michelle: Anything chocolate. Chocolate always makes things better.

Mary Helen: Anything sold in brine or double churned - but not together. (Well, not ALWAYS together)

What is the best thing about Etsy?

Mary Helen: The best thing about Etsy is the amazing wealth of talent showcased in one place. From soap to prints to jewelry, the artists on Etsy are just sensational. At any given time I could pop on and find at least one hundred things to make my heart skip a beat. It's wild to think that there are so many talented people out there - and it's mind blowing to see so many collected in one spot.

Seller Profile: Melba McMullin of justBe

Melba McMullin - justBe...art by Melba McMullin from Hyannis, MA

I am originally from New York. I have lived in seven different states through out my twenties. At an Old Navy General Manager Conference in Hawaii I met my future husband. Three months after we met, I moved to Watertown, MA to be with him. We now live in Centerville and have two children.

I am a Stay a Home Mama, Mixed Media Artist, Visual Journalist, and Creative Blogger.

I am hosting justBe...Connected; a gathering for Creative Bloggers October 12 -14, 2007 on Cape Cod. On Saturday of the gathering I am hosting The Creative Bazaar; an indie craft fair open to the public. Vendor applications are now being accepted.

I feel it is my mission to foster connections amongst Creative Bloggers and to create a place for indie crafsters to come together and sell their wares.

This past spring I created many items to be sold at a craft fair. After the fair I decided to put some of my items into an Etsy shop. I have been a registered user for over a year, but I was intimidated about starting a store. Once I got started I was surprised at how easy it is! I love Etsy; it is such an amazing way to sell and to share.

I make mixed media collages on canvas, boxes, composition books, jars...anything paper and mod podge can be adhered to. I love collage. I love the process and the results. I also enjoy making symbols out of wire. I usually incorporate them into my work and I always include a wire flower with each package.

Be Alive Believe Be You is my personal blog where I post my journal pages and creative challenges.

I also host a community blog called Create a Connection. Everyday there is a new post from a guest blogger based on a variety of different themes.

I can be contacted at melbamcmullin@comcast.net

Here is a recap of my links in case they get broken:

justBe...art by Melba McMullin: http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=50714

justBe...Connected: http://www.justbeconnected.com/

The Creative Bazaar: http://www.bealivebelievebeyou.com/creativebazaar/

Create a Connection:

http://www.bealivebelievebeyou.com/create/

Be Alive Believe Be You: http://www.bealivebelievebeyou.com/believe/

Seller Profile: Bonny from BonnyJewelry

Hi there! My name is Bonny.

I joined NEST (New England Street Team) to connect with all of the New Englanders who love to craft as much as I do!
I'm definitely a New Englander at heart - I was born and raised on the Maine coast near the Canadian border but now live in Manchester NH with my hubby and collie.



I found Etsy by looking around the web for Christmas ideas and stumbled across some items that belonged to other Etsy shops. After checking into it a bit more, I decided to open my own shop for my jewelry business (I sell beautiful and affordable handmade beaded jewelry items). I got hooked on making jewelry when I visited a small bead store in Maine and made my first necklace - I love the creativity and "instant" gratification of being able to wear something that I made with my own two little hands.


My jewelry is inspired by lots of different things - color combinations that I like, my flower garden, the beach - I'm always trying new ideas. Many of my items are also sold at craft shows - it's a great way to test the market to see if your items are liked, helps with pricing, and gets your name out there for others to find you online. I highly recommend trying some just to get some feedback on your craft!


Current projects include my new anklet line (all sterling silver on marine quality jewelry wire - you can wear these in the shower and they won't unravel or fray!). Other things I love to do is play in my flower beds, cross stitch and other needlework, and read. My books of choice really depend upon my mood - whether I want to read something "serious" or just relax and enjoy a bubblegum book (nothing substantial - just something to chew). I must admit though, I am looking forward to receiving my copy of the last Harry Potter book!


Getting back to Etsy - the best thing about Etsy? All of the people I've met online who are willing to share their ideas and suggestions and support to someone who is just starting out in the online selling world. Without them, it would have been a much tougher road.

Seller Profile: Rene Tower - For the Love of Crafts

Renee Tower created For the Love of Crafts

She is in Readsboro, VT (near Brattleboro)

NEST: How did you end up in New England? How did you hear about Etsy?
I have lived in Vermont my whole life. Every winter I get sick of the snow and want to move, but I probably never will. I heard about Etsy from my little sister, who talked about setting up a shop, but never did.

NEST: What do you make? Why do you make them? (what's your inspiration) How did you learn to do it? I make all kinds of different things, I am working on some t-shirts right now. I'm just getting into screen printing, so the shirts definitely look handmade! I tend not to follow directions, so there's a lot of trial and error sometimes. I've also been painting foam clogs (you know, crocs knockoffs) because they are too comfy to stop wearing, but let's face it, a little ugly. So, I try to make them prettier. It was my mom's idea originally, she forced me to help her and eventually to do almost all of the painting. I like to make functional things that are practical and comfy, different enough so they don't look like you got them at Walmart, but not so expensive that you're afraid to wear them every day. When I have time and can focus (hardly ever happens with a toddler in the house) I paint. I haven't been really happy with a painting in years, so I'm trying to get myself into that space again.

NEST: Something, a tip? Motto?, you've learned about your craft, selling online or at fairs you'd like to share with the world. What I've learned about selling is that (1) you'll never sell anything unless you get your stuff out there and (2) not everyone is going to like what you have made, that's okay.

NEST: Are you a vendor at any upcoming shows/events? Are you teaching any classes? I do some local craft fairs in the winter, and am planning on getting a booth at the flea market in Wilmington, VT a few more times later in the summer and in the fall.

NEST: What's the difference between Art & Craft? Which are you? I think that there is a rather large grey area between art and craft.With the huge array of products available at craft stores these days, anyone can make crafts that look pretty good. I think that an artist, when making something will give it that little extra something that will make it special. I consider myself an artist. What kind of art school dropout would I be if I didn't?

NEST: Favorite midnight snack? Comfort food? Cheese! morning noon and night, everything is better with cheese.

NEST: Recommend a good book or two. Any Tom Robbins book, The Poisonwood Bible.

NEST: What is the best thing about Etsy? What would you like to see the NEST doing for promotions? The best thing about Etsy is getting to communicate directly with customers, getting their input and feedback and ultimately getting them an item that they will use and enjoy. It's also great that sellers promote each other as well as themselves. I think that NEST members should work on having a really strong presence at our local craft fairs to spread the word about Etsy to non members. Also, a stronger presence in the forums would be great.


To keep up with Renee get a feed from her blog!

Seller Profile JansJems ~ Jan Bajgier

There are 3 of us creating for Jansjems but Jan will be answering the questions. And the answers may not necessarily reflect the opinions of the other two :)

Jansjems is Jan Bajgier, Bethany Bajgier & Krista Bajgier

Located in So. Deerfield, MA and a member of the Western Massachusetts Street Team and a frequent contributer to the blog!


NEST: How did you end up in New England?
I’ve lived in Mass. my whole life. I grew up in Southbridge where my parents still live. I married a nice boy from Chicopee (met him in college in PA, of all places) and settled in W. Mass where we both had jobs.

NEST: How did you hear about Etsy?
Selling online was always my daughter, Bethany’s, idea. We were going to set up our own website when one of her crafty friends told her to check out Etsy. We’d never heard of it. It appealed to us as a good place to start, where we could refine our online selling skills.

NEST: What do you make? Why do you make them? (what's your inspiration) How did you learn to do it?
We make high quality, beaded jewelry using genuine stones and precious metals. Why? Because we love to wear jewelry and love seeing other people enjoying our creations. We Bajgiers are a crafty, do-it-yourself bunch. We remodeled the house ourselves (gutted bathrooms and a kitchen, layed tile, etc), my husband has built cabinets, my mother and I both sew, my mother-in-law won ribbons for knitted and crocheted items. So when I took the girls to their first gem show, they immediately gravitated toward the beads, decided they could make their own jewelry, and it would be better than what they were buying. We learned by doing and doing it again. We looked at other peoples’ work to see how things were finished off. We read magazines with instructions and talked to other people doing the same things. And although we make a lot of traditional looking pieces for our more conservative customers, eventually we developed some things in our own unique style. Bethany makes light, femi
nine necklaces and chandelier earrings and Krista makes the multi-gem, long, dangling earrings and charm bracelets.
Inspiration—that comes from anywhere at anytime. Color is usually the first thing for me. I see color combinations in the sunset, landscaping, someone’s clothing. Sometimes a bunch of beads fall on the floor and I see how colors I’d never thought to put together look. This is how my cluster necklaces developed.


NEST: Are you a vendor at any upcoming shows/events?
We’re signed up to show at the Publick House Marketplace tent during the Sturbridge Harvest Festival on October 21. We’ve applied and hope to get into the Northampton Winter Craft Fair at the high school on Dec. 1-2.
(Krista is now living in Charlottesville, VA, and we’re hoping she can find a craft fair or 2 down there in the future.)

NEST: What's the difference between Art & Craft? Which are you?
Wow, that’s pretty philosophical. Art is the production of something beautiful so crafting can be art. Artists often refer to what they do as their craft. I don’t know that there is a difference. There is, however, a level of expertise that both artists and crafters aspire to. I see us at Jansjems as crafters of wearable art. And while we’re no longer beginners, we are still perfecting our skills and trying new techniques.

NEST: Favorite midnight snack? Comfort food?
Food! My favorite topic. I don’t stay up 'til midnight much anymore, but when I did it was a grilled cheese or a BLT. Comfort food is always something chocolate—brownies, ice cream, Snickers bars….whatever.

NEST: Recommend a good book or two.
As a librarian in my other life….I like all kinds of books. For fiction I mostly read mysteries. Two great reads are Dean Kontz’s “The Husband” and “The Rule of Four” by Ian Caldwell.

NEST: What is the best thing about Etsy?
That it’s a supportive community. I love the forums (I try t ignore the cranky people). I have learned so much from other people and their experiences. I can ask a question about craft fairs and get 2 whole days of answers and advice, from all over the world. And I’ve met people I never would have otherwise—other crafters that I can brainstorm with, both online and in person.

Seller Profile Melanie Chabre

Melanie Chabre is the owner and designer of Bags by Melanie.

she is an active member in the New Hampshire Street Team too.

NEST: Where are you? How did you end up in New England ?
New Ipswich NH, which about 45 minutes from Nashua. I was born in Virginia, but when I was only 2 or 3 years old my parents moved the family up to New Hampshire. I have lived in New England ever since.

NEST: How did you hear about Etsy?
I was doing a search on the internet looking for a place to sell my handmade handbags, and stumbled upon Etsy that way. It is now my mission to make sure everyone knows about Etsy!

NEST: What do you make? Why do you make them? (what’s your inspiration) Okay, I make handbags. I started making them because a friend of mine asked me if I could take her well loved handbag and make her a new one because she loved it so much and couldn't buy the same one anymore. When I pulled it apart to make the pattern I found out how truely easy it actually was to make a bag. I almost never use a pattern, because I have found out over the years that almost all bags are made from the same basic pattern; I just make different sizes to what people are asking for.

NEST: Something, a tip? Motto?
I am completely self taught. Sure, I took home economics classes in High school, but how much do you really think I paid attention?? I don't think that I will ever learn everything. Over time you get better at what you do and you learn your own little things to make your craft your own and even better then before. Patience and time are your two best friends. You have to have the patience to become better, and the patience to make all your goals. You have to keep your chin up and just strive to get better, and remember you can't always please everyone. Anything you want good to happen to you will happen in time.

NEST: Are you a vendor at any upcoming shows/events? Are you teaching any classes?
I will be doing a craft fair on October 20th in Sterling MA at the First Church. I am rather excited, I have changed a lot of what I do over the years and I think this year is the year that I have the right things to market at a craft fair and do well at it.

NEST: What’s the difference between Art & Craft? Which are you?
MC: I am not sure how to answer this, I think to be good at your Craft you almost have to be an artist too. You have to see what things will go with each other to make the best possible product.

NEST: Favorite midnight snack? Comfort food?
Haha, right now I am pregnant so I eat what the baby tells me she wants to eat. I don't really have a favorite anything, I got through phases of what I want to eat. I will always love mashed potatoes though!

NEST: Recommend a good book or two.
I will read anything and everything from James Patterson and Mary Higgins Clark, they are my two favorite authors. I love a good suspense book!

NEST: What is the best thing about Etsy?
I think Etsy is an amazing place that will only get better with a little time and patience ;) LOL
I guess my favorite thing is I have met a lot of great people there. There are a lot of amazing people who make amazing things. I am so proud to be selling in the same venue as them and because I am doing this "with" them, they make me look good, LOL

Seller Profile: Sara Lombard of LillyQueen

This is the first of a series of Seller Profiles that will be featured here on the NEST! Many thanks to Sara, for her interest and responses.

Name: Sara Lombard

Location: Trumbull, CT

Shop Name: Lilly Queen

NEST: How did you hear about Etsy?

I found Etsy one night while surfing the pages of Craftster. I was always a crafty person ever since I was young and I used the Internet to get inspiration and ideas for craft projects that I could do. At the time I was making jewelry in my spare time and I posted a few photos of them on Craftster to get some feedback, lots of people commented on how much they liked them and asked me if I sold online, I said no, and emails about joining Etsy began pouring in.

NEST: What do you make? How did you learn to do it?

I make jewelry, I know it's a common thing, but we all have our special touch to making pieces. I started off with very basic pieces and now I'm beginning to pull apart vintage jewelry to remake them into new modern pieces. I think this touch of old really gives each piece a unique personality. I learned on my own, from books, and looking at looks of websites online, and also a lot of trial and error.

NEST: Something, a tip? Motto?, you've learned about your craft, selling online or at fairs you'd like to share with the world.

Don't give up! There are so many people out there, so many styles, so many likes and dislikes, you are bound to find someone who loves something you make just as much as you love making it. Don't get discouraged if something doesn't sell there is always another person around the corner.

NEST: What's the difference between Art & Craft? Which are you?

Art is something unique, something special, something that comes from that creative core in you; art is one of a kind and cannot be learned. A craft, to me, is something that can be learned, something that everyone can do, something which has directions, cut and paste and ta-dah it's done. I consider my jewelry art.

NEST: Favorite midnight snack?

Oreo cookies & Milk

NEST: What is the best thing about Etsy?

The community, the fact that we all can come together and share a part of us. I love being able to look at everyone's pieces and see the uniqueness in everything. There is so much talent that I wish more people would appreciate handmade goods instead of mass produced pieces.