Featured Seller!

I love Etsy and I love the Etsy community. I've met lots of other crafters who have been helpful and supportive. One of my favorites is Baby Friendly Beads. Not only does she offer cool jewelry for a mom, but she also lives in my hometown, San Jose!

So, here's a little interview with her... check out her blog for a feature she did on World of Whimm!

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What is your shop name and URL? Baby Friendly Beads http://bfbeads.etsy.com/

To which Etsy Street Teams do you belong? EtsyKids, EtsyMom, and Etsybloggers

Tell me two (or more!) interesting things about you. (Hobbies, achievements, favorite something-or-other, family situation, jobs, etc…) I'm a published poet and an aspiring children's book author. I was the first woman in my family to earn a college degree. I've been a high school teacher, a professional artist's model, and a swing dance instructor. Right now, I'm a SAHM to two great kids. I've been happily married for over a decade.

What do you sell in your Etsy shop? Baby Friendly Beads -- Jewelry for Breastfeeding & Beyond! Nursing necklaces and reminder bracelets to help keep busy baby hands occupied while breastfeeding and to help mom with nursing sessions.

What inspires your creations?
My babies, my commitment to breastfeeding them -- and my desire to help other moms with nursing. When my son was about 6 months old, he started pinching and pulling at my hair while he nursed, and he was very easily distracted. I wore a normal necklace for a while, which helped focus his attention, but he soon broke it. So I started shopping for nursing necklaces, but I didn't like the designs that I found. The more traditional nursing necklace style looks to me like a bracelet loop on a necklace cord, and I worried about breakage with this sort of design. I also wanted something that was pretty, something I could wear as a normal part of my wardrobe, and something that would be adjustable in length. When I couldn't find something that suited, I decided to make my own, and Baby Friendly Beads were born! Since the arrival of my daughter, I've added a custom birthstone design, and she continues to inspire me as she plays with "our" nursing necklaces.

Tell me a bit about your creative process and/or how you learned to do what you do. I'm a self-taught jewelry designer. I started making and selling beaded jewelry when I was a teenager. I'd deconstruct the designs I saw for sale and figure out how they were made. My mom worked at a local boutique, and that's where I first sold my jewelry.

I'm a bead addict, and my creative process mostly involves playing around with color, size, and texture combinations. When I was faced with the multiple challenges of designing breastfeeding jewelry, it was a real challenge to my creativity. It took several attempts before I finalized the design, before I found something that was both strong enough to work and yet pretty enough for me to wear with pride.

I also get creative flashes when I'm playing with my kids, like the spark that inspired my "Stuffy Puffy" line of nursing necklaces.

What is your favorite item in your shop (currently for sale or previously sold)? Why is it your favorite? I really like the idea behind my custom birthstone nursing necklaces and reminder bracelets. I've made myself a necklace featuring my own birthstone and those of my children, and I love wearing it. I had to choose some "alternative" birthstones from the usual list, since I needed beads that could have large enough holes for the cotton cord that I use in my necklaces, so doing the research for this product took a fair amount of time. But I think the result is worth it! The design is simple but stylish, and I like the symbolic significance of using birthstones. It's also fun to do custom work for my customers.

What 3 words would you use to describe yourself? Creative, loyal, tired

What do you like about Etsy? I love the Etsy community, and I have great fun shopping here. I like how easy it was to set up my own shop online. I've met delightful people, and I am continually amazed at the nifty stuff I find in other shops. It's wonderful to be part of this thriving creative marketplace.

What makes your shop unique? Making breastfeeding jewelry in and of itself is pretty unique, I think. It's a product that addresses a practical need but also lets moms feel pretty. Though you'll find a few other folks making nursing necklaces and bracelets, no other breastfeeding jewelry is like Baby Friendly Beads! I created my own original designs for the necklaces and bracelets, and every piece I make is one of a kind. I don't know of any other breastfeeding jewelry that has a design option incorporating birthstones. I also guarantee my jewelry for a full year -- if it breaks, I'll restring it for free!

What advice do you have for other folks selling or buying on Etsy? For sellers: find a niche, follow your heart, and make something you'd be proud to use or wear yourself. If you love your product and make it your own, you'll also find success. Also, network!!! Etsy is a fabulous place, full of friendly folks. Read the forums, join a street team, and take advantage of the great resources available through the Etsy community!

For buyers: take advantage of all the great and fun ways to shop! Play around with the site. They've created so many neat ways to find things. Personally, I like threading through favorites -- clicking on who has hearted a shop, and then seeing what they sell -- and also using the Suggestions buying option. You never know what neat stuff you will find!

Where else can we find out more about you and/or your creations (please include a link)? My website is coming soon (http://www.babyfriendlybeads.com/ -- right now it just links to my etsy store). You can also check out my blog at http://mamasmagic.blogspot.com/