yesterday, July 20, 2008 marked the one year anniversary of my very first sale on etsy. what an incredible twelve months it has been! thank you to etsy for providing an awesome marketplace and community for artists and supporters of the arts. i have connected with so many people via etsy- i really cannot say how fond i am of this site. it has opened up SO many doors for me. thank you! thank you! thank you!

in honor of the occasion, i’m holding a one-week long celebratory sale in the etsy shop as well as here on the website! if you are shopping here, just type in coupon code bananas at checkout (and if you are shopping at the etsy shop, please wait for a revised invoice before completing checkout) for 25% off your entire order.

also for this special day, i caught up with christina, my very first etsy client! christina is a crafter too as well as a supporter of the arts. see her blog right here! i recently checked in with christina and asked her a few questions for this special blog post, here’s what she had to say.

1. tell us about your craft and how you initially became involved in your craft.
I like to do a lot of things, but my main craft is beading. I think I’ve tried making nearly everything with beads: jewelry, flowers, baskets, bookmarks, the list goes on. I like the variety that’s available in that medium. One day I can make something with silver and beads and use my hammer and tools; the next I can enjoy the sense of calm that comes with beadweaving with needle, thread, and beads.
2. why do you craft?
I grew up doing crafts and seeing my mom always working on something, so it’s just part of who I am.
3. what are your top three reasons for supporting crafters?
I’m always interested in seeing what people are making. I think it’s important to buy handmade items to keep the spirit of crafting alive and well. When I buy something handmade, the person who made it is much more excited about the piece and about selling it than a department store is! I love hearing the stories of what inspired them to make what I’m buying. There’s something appealing about that personal connection. I feel good about helping someone else achieve their dream of making a living doing what they love to do.

thank you so much, christina for putting that number “1″ up there on my etsy store, it gave me the confidence to continue forward with my shop. xoxo!

and because this made me smile and i hope it will do the same for you:

via ffffound