Wednesday, April 7, 2010

April TeamT Feature - Tara (Mamachee/BornWithIt)

Hello everyone! It feels weird doing a feature on myself but here goes...
I started this etsy team last year in May and I'm soooo happy with how the team has grown. Everybody is SO great and its been so much fun getting to know you amazing and talented crafters/artists. I really haven't been able to be as involved with the team as I had imagined I always would be (because of my living situation and babies) and I apologize for that - I really don't know where the team would be now if it weren't for those that have helped so much (you know who you are!) Thank you Thank you Thank you!
This team is the greatest team on etsy (in my opinion) and I am so happy with the success it has given to a lot (or even most) of us. I hope that this team will continue on strongly and make all of us super successful etsy sellers - beyond what we had even imagined for ourselves!

Personal
What furniture/design/home decor piece do you love most? Hmmm, that might have to be my rag quilt I found at a thrift store for only $20 (in supremo condition)

 I found this photo of my rag quilt behind the pile of clean clothes - if you look closely you can find my son hiding under the clothes pile - silly boy

Married/single? Will have been married 6 years May 28th 2010   whoa!


Kids/no kids? 3 -  Jordan (4), Galilee (1), and Summer (2 mo)  I've been busy ( :

Jordan and Galilee

Pets/no pets? two dogs - Montie (a small white mutt) and Timber (a German Shepherd)

Day job? I am the queen of my roost - before I had my first child I worked as a dental assistant (loved that job)

Location? North Pole, Alaska (the last frontier) 

Age? 23

How many languages do you speak and what are they? I speak English only...my mom tried and failed to teach me German.

Do you play an instrument? Well, I can play the piano a little bit....a very little bit. One day I would like to start playing the gee-tar


Can you sing? Anybody can sing but sadly my voice is not one that you would listen too for enjoyment. My husband cannot sing either- we are hoping that we cancel each other out and our children will have lovely singing voices.

Lets Talk Business
What is a good story behind your craft and what got you started? I was always a crafty/fidgety little girl sticking my fingers into anything I could. It wasn't till I was...I think 15 that I started to crochet and have been happily stuck doing it ever since...got good at it...started selling stuff at a local baby boutique...then tried etsy (in response to the urging of a couple friends)


 The Fat Birdy

Where do you get inspirations? Oh everywhere....I have a bad staring problem...I really love to sit and stare at things and people. It embarrasses my husband sometimes but I am just admiring and getting ideas and I always have a cheerful smile for those that catch me staring at them. Baby and Children clothes are great for inspiration too, they come in such pretty colors and patterns.

Does your family help with your business/hobby?
Yes, my husband helps a whole bunch. He listens as I talk through ideas of mine and he watches the children for me while I crochet. The Birdy Rattle (the most successful item of mine) was actually my husbands idea....I designed the bird and my husband told me to put a rattle in it and add a handle.


Do you like your craft/hobby?
I love to design and sell patterns and I'm having fun with the bornwithit (my item shop) shop but I would like to be to one day live off of only designing patterns. I would like to be able to always work on something new and fun.
 My most popular crochet pattern

How do you market? I spend a bit on online for monthly advertising at popular crochet sites and I'm apart of this team ( :


What gets neglected when you're tending to your shop or creating? I try my best to always keep up on the house and of course always play and hug on the children every day - I try my best to neglect nothing but it does have to happen sometimes and my husband is very helpful when that happens.


 Little baby Summer (1 mo. old) modeling the bear hat

What are your future plans for your business? I am currently working on a crochet book proposal and hope to get it sent out in the next couple weeks - so excited about that and hopefully that will take me to great places and provide other opportunities. I would really like to start teaching crochet classes again once my children are older - I have great plans and really look forward to seeing what the future has for our little business.

Any bad experiences with etsy...rude customers/bad buy? I had one terrible buy - it was very disappointing but the good WAY out does the bad here on etsy. Etsy seller and buys are some of the friendliest people!

For Fun
Are you awesome? I try my best to think positively about everything..my nature would lean toward answering no but yes, I am very awesome!

When was the last time you had a staring contest? I don't remember when but it was with my husband and he won...he always does.


When was the last time you fell asleep with the TV on? We don't have television channels but we love watching movies - I think I fell asleep last night while watching Fracture.

Do you believe in love at first sight? I would really like to because it seems so nice but nope, I do not believe that you can fall in love with somebody at first sight any more than I feel in love with all those delicious looking candies that vintageconfection makes ( :

Are vampires real? I think they might be to an extent

Does pushing the elevator button more than once make it arrive faster? No, I think it may actually make it go slower ( :
Where you named after anyone? I was named after the Tara Plantation in the Movie Gone With the Wind.

What is the first thing you notice about people? Their pearly whites..I was a dental assistant ( :

What is on your mouse pad? I don't have a mouse pad.

If you were another person would you be friends with you? Yes, I think I have the personality type to be, for the most part, compatible with anybody.

 Favorites
 Favorite number? 3 because I like how it looks and I like to write a 3

Favorite flower? I really like daisies and poppies....one time I saw a mound (about the size of a car) in a little parking lot that was covered with poppies - it was the prettiest thing - ever since I've really loved poppies.

Favorite Color? Red....because its just the best color....add a little white and you get the next best. Of course I love green too...I like all colors really!

Favorite smells? Sugary Baked Goods - like brownies!

Favorite Food? Spaghetti and anything my mom cooks ( :

Favorite etsy shop? I don't think I can call any my favorite because there are so many amazing ones..some of note to me are (beyond the amazing shops in our team) sigmosaics, artmind, kristimcmurry, colleenattarastudio, sylver, lueandsue, turnyourhead, therainbowroom....oh, and many more...too many to list really.

Favorite pass-time? Watching a fun movie with my husband or going to the park with kids on a sunny day.

Favorite memory? This is much too hard of a question - there are so many great memories but I think one of my very favorites may be my whole 7-8th grade years. I had such great friends and we had so much fun just being silly girls. And....i'm blond. Everybody knows that girls just want to have fun and blonds have the most fun.


Favorite youtube video? There has been so many funny you tube videos I have found over the past years but right now this one stands out to me....FROG FAIL
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jfpv4f_1rLA&feature=related

10 comments:

michelle said...

i really LOVE these teamt features.
i have images of you all in my head which the features shatter (not in a bad way).

tara, your family is adorable!!
xo

Anonymous said...

I'm so happy to know you more!
You inspiring me with your wonderful life! Thank you for all you've done for this team! Wonderful feature!
Anny

Robin @ Red Line Vintage said...

I agree with Michelle! I'm always somehow surprised in one way or another when I get to "meet" our team members. You and your family are cute as a button, Tara!

Unknown said...

North Pole, Alaska?? Wonderful place, I'm sure! Your family is so adorable and I'm so glad you founded this great Team!!

Karen/Small Earth Vintage said...

You and your family are beautiful, Tara! You have a lot to be proud of with the team, too. I had no idea when I joined how great it would be, not just for promotion, but for support and knowledge. I wish you the very best of luck with your book proposal, too--keep us posted!

The Magic Onions said...

I also love reading these features and getting to know people on the team better... I love that you were named after Tara from GWTW... sweet!
Your family is adorable!
Blessings and magic,
Donni.

Sarah John Afana said...

What a tremendously fun feature, thanks so much for sharing such a beautifully inspiring family.
This is the best team ever Tara :)
Well done!

JenSan said...

I love reading and learning more about our team members and how they came to their craft. A very enjoyable interview. Thanks for sharing and for organizing our wonderful team. And your family is gorgeous. Good luck with your book proposal.

TheNightJar said...

what a beautiful family you have-love your feature Tara

TheNightJar said...

oh, yeah, and my mom says she named me Tarra after Gone With the Wind but my dad says that Tara (Tarra) is the old capitol of Ireland- a raging feud...sigh. (!)