Giving it a whirl...

For as long as I can remember, every once in a while I would get this hankering to just MAKE something. Whether it be an awesome display of Christmas lights in my bedroom when I was a kid or helping my grandma bake some of her delectable oatmeal cookies, I’ve always loved to create. Yeah, sure, sometimes I don’t finish a project, so what? At least I had fun dreaming it up, imagining how cool it would be when it was done, and feeling capable of conquering any craft as I check out at JO-ANNs. It’s the process that I love so much.

Baking was the first form of making that I really fell in love with. Everyone loves a tasty treat and I find great joy in being able to make and share tasty treats with everyone. Even though I am uber critical of my baking, I still love watching people’s eyes grow and smiles rise as I walk through the door with a plate of goodies. 

Fortunately/Unfortunately (you could look at it either way), even my love of baking wasn’t filling my “make tank” inside. So, I started searching for a new love. I’m not really sure how I fell upon that first cheesy “How to Crochet” YouTube video, but I do remember attempting to knit prior to crochet and despising every second of it. I kept thinking to myself as I practiced casting on, “There’s got to be a faster way!” Enter crochet. I tossed the knitting needles, picked up a crochet hook, turned on my computer, and away I went! My first project was a silvery gray scarf.  

 I cringed that I’m even displaying it for all to see, but everyone has to start somewhere, right? 

Over the next two years my crocheting skills improved and I was able to create a few gifts and fun things for myself. It was over this past Spring Break, when I was  stuck inside my house (while it rained cats and dogs all week long) and my itch to make was coming on strong that I really dove into this craft. I started searching crochet patterns online and made a couple baby hats. Then I found the best website of all time, Etsy. I showed my husband and he said "You need to sell your stuff on there!" I immediately thought, "That's sweet, but would never work" however the thought kept looming in my mind that maybe I could make and sell stuff online.

After contemplating a name, creating a simple banner and logo, and crocheting about 10 hats, I decided to try selling my makings on Etsy. April 16, 2011, Tatted toppers set up shop. I was a bit apprehensive at opening a shop because I just could not imagine why anyone would choose my stuff over the thousands, possibly millions, of other hats on this wonderful website. Trust me, I took a long time to study and size up my competition before giving it a go and I still wasn’t sure Tatted toppers would go anywhere. 

I started with a variety of hats and headbands...

and it only took one day to sell my first item. Granted this sale was to my sister-in-law, but hey, my niece was the perfect first customer! 

59 sales later and I’m loving every minute.  Of course, that desire to make is still going strong and I lay awake at night thinking of all the new things I want to crochet, bake, or make. There are many ideas in my head right now and I'm excited to share them with you in the coming days, week, months...dare I say, years? We'll see!