WESTie Wednesday featuring PJs Scraps and Paper!

WESTie Wednesday with Patrice Skovgaard of PJs Scraps and Paper!

Welcome to WESTie Wednesday, where each week we get to know a proud WEST member and their Etsy shop! Learn about Patrice and her shop, PJs Scraps and Paper.

"My shop's inspiration came from my recent retirement! I have always been a craft chick and when I no longer had a fulltime job, I thought it would be a perfect opportunity to do something I wanted to do. I have a few craft hobbies that I love, so I found I couldn't limit it to just one thing, hence the scraps and paper in my shop. So far I buy my materials wherever I can find sales or from things that have been given to me. I'm now looking for some specific things for my new designs and I've been lucky enough to find a supplier on Etsy that has reasonable prices, so I'll be happy to support that shop in the future! I have taken over two rooms in our tiny house for my cardmaking and sewing. And I don't feel one bit guilty about it! My husband still has his workshop, so I think it has worked out fairly. I also tend to spill over into other areas - the dining room for taking shop photos, and my comfy chair for handwork."

"I sell items made from fabric and paper that are intended to be useful for the buyer or to be used as gifts. I sell greeting cards - photo cards and handmade cards and I sell fabric things such as coasters, hairbands, wine totes, toddler aprons, bags and purses, and quilted Christmas stockings. I hope to branch out into more designs of some of my items once I have a little more time. My demographic is anyone who is looking for practical and pretty things for gifts or to treat themselves. I am always going to try and include some things for kids as well, just because they are so fun to make!"

What makes Patrice feel just-so about having her very own Etsy shop for the world to see? Says Patrice, "I am finally able to fully indulge my creative side and share the things I make with others!"

Want to see more? Be sure to check out PJs Scraps and Paper on social media:

Facebook | Instagram

WESTie Wednesday : featuring Everything Little W

WESTie Wednesday with Jessica of Everything Little W!

Welcome to WESTie Wednesday, where each week we get to know a proud WEST member and their Etsy shop! Learn about Jessica and her shop Everything Little W.

"I sell natural educational toys that encourage imaginative play, such as puppet theatres, wooden peg dolls, Waldorf-inspired dolls and doll clothes, chalkboard mats, hand kits, crayon rolls and art kits. My demographic is 1-10 years olds and anyone who has children in that age bracket in their lives, for whom they would buy gifts."

"I started creating 5 years ago after I had my daughter. I had been teaching full time until she came into our lives. After we fell into a routine, I found that I needed a creative outlet and chatted with a friend who was already selling. I started by selling through her, since my items worked well with hers. I went with her to craft markets and really enjoyed myself, so when it came time to develop more ideas, I knew I could do it! I chatted with my sister over the following summer, and we decided to start creating together, and so Everything Little was born!"



"We both designed and created our own items and I was in charge of getting them to the masses (sometimes a bit tough when we were separated by two provinces). Now it's just me and I've found my passion for using my educational background to help create toys that are imagination based and fun to play with, but also have some educational value. All of my dolls, chalkboard mats, theaters, pegs, etc. are created at my dining room table often after everyone else in the house has gone to bed. Each night I put in a movie or listen to a pod cast while sewing by machine or hand, or painting as I put together each and every toy with a lot of love and attention to detail." 

"As much as possible, I try to source my materials from Canadian retailers. For example, the carded wool used in all my dolls is a combination of roving sourced from a family run farm in Ontario (Egli's) and raw wool (which I clean and card) from a small farm out of Carman, MB. The doll skin is purchased from an Etsy seller out of BC, who gets it specially milled from the Netherlands. Most of my other fabrics are purchased from a small Canadian fabric shop (Funky Monkey Fabrics) out of Ontario. That being said, I also source from big box stores like Michaels and Fabricland for things like ribbon and thread."

We asked Jessica “Why Etsy?” "I started my shop to try to reach a wider audience and expand my business."

Want to see more? Be sure to check out Everything Little W on social media:

Facebook | Instagram

WESTie Wednesday : ft Metamorphosis Glass Works!

WESTie Wednesday with Michelle of Metamorphosis Glass Works!

Welcome to WESTie Wednesday, where each week we get to know a proud WEST member and their Etsy shop! Learn about Michelle and her shop Metamorphosis Glass Works.

"At Metamorphosis Glass Works, I create stained glass and mosaic art, everything from stained glass sun-catchers and large window panels to mosaic key holders, wall art and house numbers.

What is nice about my work is that it appeals to a wide audience: seagulls on driftwood appeals for a 20-year-old in France, stained glass feathers at a cabin in BC, Birds on a Wire mosaic art for a 30 something professional from Regina. My client base is so varied and unique, it never gets boring!

Several years ago my universe as I knew it completely changed and it made me stop and take stock of my life and what I wanted out of it. After taking some yoga, reiki and photography classes I ended up doing an introductory stained glass class and fell absolutely in love. Since then I've taken several classes in Winnipeg as well as in Chicago and can't seem to get enough of the learning and evolving that comes with glass art.

About a year ago, after much encouragement from friends and family, I started to explore the idea of selling my glass art. Based out of Winnipeg MB, I have a lovely little boutique glass studio in my backyard that allows me to create anytime inspiration strikes.

My work tends to be a combination of natural themed pieces using driftwood from some of Manitoba's most beautiful lakes as well as modern interpretations of a traditional handcraft. I like to think of my work as fitting into the category of 'not your grandma's stained glass'!

We asked Michelle “Why Etsy?”

"The Etsy community is incredibly rich and diverse: including its events programming, celebrating milestones or helping each other out. These are just some of things I love about being part of a community of vintage curators and handmade artisans who support and encourage each other."

Want to see more? Be sure to check out Metamorphosis Glass Works on social media:

Facebook | Instagram

WESTie Wednesday : ft Imagine Yarn!

WESTie Wednesday with Anel of Imagine Yarn!

Welcome to WESTie Wednesday, where each week we get to know a proud WEST member and their Etsy shop! Learn about Anel and her shop Imagine Yarn.

"At Imagine Yarn, I sell two different lines. I sell crochet and felt completed purses which range in sizes. I love making these and they make great gifts. I have also put together kits to make the purses. The kits for the felted purses include a pattern I wrote with clear directions, the metal purse frame and 100% unwashed wool from Norway. I also have a makeup bag purse kit that includes a pattern I wrote, metal purse frame and 100% cotton. One of my favourite purses is the Miss Daisy. The kit includes a pattern written by a South African designer friend, South African 100% cotton or merino wool and a purse metal frame. The Miss Daisy purse includes a lovely quote that a friend helped me write.

I am originally from South Africa, a country with lovely cotton and merino wool. I believe crochet and knitting are moving in a very exciting new direction. Handmade crochet items are more modern with a lovely old world charm. This process is what inspired me to start my shop.

All we need is imagination to give free range to our creativity and create something beautiful. I look for new hardware to incorporate into crochet items. My focus is purses. A lot of my yarn is hand dyed in South Africa, both 100% cotton and 100% merino. I love their yarn. I also have South African artisan handcraft wooden crochet hooks for the shop. I put the kits together and create some completed purses in my home in-between my day job.

We asked Anel “Why Etsy?”

"My friends and family were encouraging me to sell the lovely purses I made for them, so I thought I would give this a try."

Want to see more? Be sure to check out Imagine Yarn on social media:

Facebook | Instagram

WESTie Wednesday : ft The InkPAD

WESTie Wednesday with Carla Giesbrecht-Wat of The InkPAD!

Welcome to WESTie Wednesday, where each week we get to know a proud WEST member and their Etsy shop! Learn about Carla and her shop The InkPAD.

"At The InkPAD, I sell hand screen printed apparel for babies/toddlers, totes, and cards/prints. My main demographic is young families, in particular, moms with young children."

I am a hard-working stay at home mom who loves to create things. I recently started screen printing and I fell in love. My goal is to create meaningful products that connect with the customer.

My process is pretty free flowing: I base my product on my history or memories, present life with children and images that can take you on a journey (with a little bit of humour). Right now my materials come from local/online stores that sell blank apparel. There are a few art stores that sell screen printing products in Winnipeg but I buy online most of my supplies. All the physical work is done in my basement and the digital designing is done on my laptop wherever I may be.
I do all my own product photography which is becoming another one of my passions and also have a very active Instagram feed which is growing daily.

We asked Carla “Why Etsy?”

"Being creative has always been a part of my life and now that I am lucky enough to stay at home with my kids, I want to dive in and support my family. It's the best combo I can think of, even though it can be crazy at times!"

Want to see more? Be sure to check out The InkPAD on social media:

Facebook | Instagram

WESTie Wednesday : ft flfcreations

WESTie Wednesday with Wendi Kuarsingh of flfcreations!

Welcome to WESTie Wednesday, where each week we get to know a proud WEST member and their Etsy shop! Learn about Wendi and her shop flfcreations.

"At flfcreations, I mainly sell children's items such as costumes, plushies and stuffies. I also touch on home decor and one of my more popular items locally would have to be my "home Manitoba" pillows and ornaments."

"I was initially inspired by my 2-year-old. I bought felt hoping to make him a giant robot. The robot was a success and I was hooked on creating new things out of felt! Four years later my products are in a couple of local shops and I have many online sales.

All my materials are purchased locally and are created with much love and patience.  

I specialize in stuffies as well as children's costumes and old school rag dolls. The options seem endless! If only I had more time in the day to create all the ideas playing around in my mind."

We asked Wendi “Why Etsy?”

"I decided to start an Etsy shop because locally I've done quite well and was hoping to expand my sales. I have been quite successful on Etsy."

"I encourage you if you have a passion and a dream to chase after it with all your heart."

Want to see more? Be sure to check out flfcreations on social media:

Facebook | Instagram

WESTie Wednesday : ft CanoeRidge Pottery

WESTie Wednesday with Lorraine Walker of CanoeRidge!

Welcome to WESTie Wednesday, where each week we get to know a proud WEST member and their Etsy shop! Learn about Lorraine and her shop CanoeRidge. 

"At CanoeRidge I sell porcelain and stoneware pottery, all functional, including bowls, plates, mugs, cups, teapots and more."

"My "day job" is being a veterinarian at a small animal clinic in Winnipeg (Academy Road Spay and Neuter Clinic). The largest percentage of my life so far has been becoming and working as a small animal veterinarian. While I love what I do, I have a number of other passions. My husband, family, and travel are the most important. I also love riding my horse and have now discovered the joy of making pottery on the pottery wheel.

I started in a family class with my daughter, then 11 years old. I became addicted, and when I took classes at a studio in Winnipeg for 3 years I absolutely loved it! I am still learning about the creation, stages, and all the chemistry that goes into glazing, which fascinates me."

"Now that I am addicted and have my own wheel, kiln, and other equipment, as much as I'd like to keep it, I really need to sell some of my work as I have no room for it all! Many of my items for sale are currently from the work I fired at a local studio, in a large high fire gas reduction kiln. Because the "turn around" time is very long, I rarely use the Cone 10 clays and glazes now.

I can do some custom orders, but it will be with my Cone 6 electric clays and kiln."

We asked Lorraine “Why Etsy?”

"I was hoping to get some interest in my pottery and find some buyers. Also, I wanted somewhere I can send people I meet locally to see my items and possibly buy something."

"We are lucky enough to live in a house on the Assiniboine River in River Heights of Winnipeg. I love seeing deer, squirrels, woodpeckers, woodchucks, ducks, geese, the occasional bald eagle, and even a fox or two. We had an old canoe from my husband Philipp's family, sitting on the banks at the end of our property. That is where the name for my shop comes from: CanoeRidge. I get the majority of my supplies from the Sounding Stone, a potter's supply store in Winnipeg."

Want to see more? Be sure to check out CanoeRidge on social media:

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