Featured Seller No. 3

Featured Seller: Beneath the Rowan Tree

Tell us about yourself.(Name, location, etc)Lori, Northern Ontario (Canada), I work full time. Married, with a two year old daughter. We are adopting a child and currently waiting to be matched.

What made you want to start crafting?
I have always done it. I love to make things for others and working with colour, fiber and texture makes me happy! I started crafting for kids when I wanted bright, fun and natural clothes for my own daughter that provided fun and interesting images to spur their imaginations (vs. the commercial overload you find in store-bought items).

What do you sell?
Hand dyed (tie dyed) and hand painted cotton children’s clothing (tees, onesies, dresses, hats and more) as well as hand dyed playsilks.What makes you different from other sellers?That is a tough one! I think every seller has their own story, motivation and vision. I know mineis driven by my daughter and creating clothing I would want her to wear, even as I am motivated to do the work for others to raise funds for our upcoming adoption. I buy supplies out of money I budget monthly and all my proceeds from sales go directly into our adoption account.

What advice to you have for other crafters?
Well, this is from my husband, whenever I get stressed out about directions and what to sell ~ do what you love and love what you do, or just don’t do it!

Do you have an items in your store that you love? Tell us about it.
I do. It is a very weird little shirt. It was intended to be dyed orange and black, and as is the wonder of tie dyeing ~ it came out entirely different in a gorgeous subtle shade of pink on black.Rather than view it as a mistake it became an opportunity. I let it sit for a while and then the illustration offered itself to me... and it is sort of bizarre. But it features three little penguins on their way to the fifties in saddle shoes, pink pearls, and one even has a cashmere cardigan! It is just odd enough to make me giggle and be glad that I still have the capacity for whimsy and wonder! http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=6413152

Tell us about your newest item for sale?
My newest new item (not a relist) is my first two piece set: a onesie dyed in a Neopolitan stripe of brown/ white/ pink and accented with a little banana split paired with a similarly dyed infant cap with a cherry on top.Where do you see yourself going with your craft in the future?I am exploring options for organic cotton clothing as well as hemp and bamboo. I would like to begin to develop some recurring ‘characters’ for my clothing, too. I am also on the verge of opening another online shop in September.

Where can we buy your products?
At Etsy now, as well as Hyena Cart come Septemberhttp://beneaththerowantree.etsy.com/

Are there any other links that you would like to include?
My blog: http://beneaththerowantree.blogspot.com/
My Flickr Gallery: http://flickr.com/photos/beneaththerowantree/