Friday Features No. 2 -- Mrs. Kwitty's Cottage

Good morning and Happy Friday to you all! I'm very excited to announce that we have a winner from last Friday's giveaway (earrings from Veronica Willingham). The number that random.org gave us is #2, and the winner is Lisa K. of XSBaggage & Co. (AKA bagladiesinpa)!!! Congratulations Lisa!!!

Now on to our Friday Feature, featuring Karen of Mrs. Kwitty's Cottage (AKA misseskwittys). Have you SEEN her things??? I love her style...a little cottage, a little shabby, a little vintage. Let's hear from Karen, about who she is and what she loves to do.



TDB: How long have you been selling on Etsy?
Mrs. Kwitty: I discovered Etsy mid-April 2006 and fell in love!! I listed my first item about 3 days later. It was a big step for me because I was actually very new at the computer and had only been on the internet for about 3 months by then!

TDB: When did you start your craft?
Mrs. Kwitty: I've been crafty since birth. *grin* Well, maybe not THAT early! My Mom made the most amazing Barbie clothes and would let me help pick out the fabrics and what little bits of lace and buttons to use for each outfit, learning to stitch things by hand at a very young age. She sewed and crocheted and knit and painted and gardened and canned and all those wonderful home crafts and enjoyed teaching me as she went about her day. I asked for (and got) a REAL sewing machine for my 11th birthday.
Crafting and sewing are a part of who I am in the very center of my being. I started crafting as a business when my children were babies and I began to work craft fairs on the weekends while my husband could be home with the kids.


TDB: What inspires you?
Mrs. Kwitty: Oh, so many things! I am inspired by vintage linens, the beautiful handwork and time that was spent making ordinary household items beautiful. I love all the fabrics from the 30's and 40's. The lovely colors and patterns from that era are inspiring. I am inspired by the women from that era who had the war hanging over their heads and life was tough, but they worked so hard to make their homes colorful and pretty in many little ways. Color is exciting to me! I love to mix colors and patterns in pretty ways.

TDB: If you could learn some new skills, what would they be?
Mrs. Kwitty: I would like to learn to knit socks. Oh, and I'd love to spend a day with someone who is really talented with mixed media collage and soak up some of the techniques used.


TDB: What are your favorite materials to work with?
Mrs. Kwitty: Well, if you could take a little peek down in my crazy, packed-to-the-brim craft room it would be very easy for you to figure that out! lol http://www.flickr.com/photos/misseskwittys/1078152889/ http://www.flickr.com/photos/misseskwittys/1077962835/in/photostream/ Old buttons, feedsack fabrics, rick rack, vintage embroidery patterns, linen, anything that brings you back in time.

TDB: Are you on any Etsy street teams?
Mrs. Kwitty: Yes!! I LOVE my street teams!!
1) Cottage Style Street Team (CSST)--vintage, shabby chic, cottage style--all that and such a wonderful and warm bunch of people! Love them!
2) Old World Shops (OWS)--traditional crafts in today's world. Very talented bunch of people who are keeping the past alive!
3) EtsyMoms--the greatest bunch of ladies, stay-at-home-moms (SAHM) and work-at-home-moms (WAHM)--just creating beautiful things while the kids are sleeping or at school! lol

TDB: If you could travel anywhere in the world, where would it be, and why?
Mrs. Kwitty: I would love to take a trip to the Holy Land--see the places I have read about in the bible and walk in Jesus' footsteps. It would be good for the soul. Also, I'd love to go out to Arizona and see my Dad, I haven't seen him in 12 years and I miss him so. As soon as I make my first million on Etsy--I'm going! lol

TDB: What other things do you enjoy, besides crafting?

Mrs. Kwitty: Well, I enjoy my family. I have a wonderful hubby and 2 great kids and I enjoy being with them. I enjoy movies--old movies and new movies. I enjoy going treasure hunting--thrift shops, antique shops, second hand stores--you know, that sort of thing! I enjoy the rich online community--blogs, Etsy, Flickr--I've met so many great people this way!

You can find Mrs. Kwitty on Etsy or on her blog!

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Mrs. Kwitty's Wonderful Giveaway:

Oh how I love the combination of sage and red! Mrs. Kwitty has generously offered up this set for our giveaway. The set consists of a fabric-covered 2008 datebook and matching keychain wallet, which retails at about $24.00.

The Not So Small Print: All you need to do to enter is leave one comment, along with a valid email address (we need to be able to get ahold of you if you win!). One entry per person please. Duplicate entries will be deleted. This giveaway is open worldwide. We will draw for a winner on Friday, February 29th.

Don't forget, the giveaway for the sweet Apple and Eve bunny is still open until Monday February 25th at midnight PST.