I first saw SushiForBaby‘s things when I was putting together Capri’s (my daughter) Birthday Wishlist Treasury. I fell in love with her adorable, unique items and asked her for an interview. Here’s what she had to say:
Tell me a little bit about your background in arts and crafts.
>> I’ve always enjoyed expressing myself artistically, but I’ve never before focused in one area alone (like creating things for babies). I get bored easily, so I’m always looking for new and original things to create. I dabbled in painting, computer design, felt crafting, sewing (which I am horrible at!), scrapbooking, etc. But making baby gifts for friends and selling them on Etsy is the first thing I’ve really ‘stuck’ to and been really passionate about.
When did you first start creating things, and what were the first things you created? How did your creativity progress from there?
>> My business started when I made a diaper cake for my friend’s baby shower, and I loved doing it! I started selling diaper cakes on Etsy, where I had been a buyer for over a year. When my anti-frilly, no-pink-or-I’ll-kill-you colleague Dejah was pregnant, I knew I couldn’t show up at her shower with a traditional diaper cake. She introduced me to sushi and it was her favorite, so I worked really hard to make a diaper gift that looked like sushi. She absolutely adored it and everything just flowed from there!
Is this your only business or do you do other things as well?
>> I do document formatting and graphic design for a few select consulting clients, but my ‘day job’ is being a mother to my 2.5 year old daughter.
Do you still dream about making other things? If so, what?>> Lots of money!! Just kidding. 🙂 I want to continue to expand my line of sushi items and baby gift items. I love doing collaborations with other Etsy sellers (like http://luluswoobies.etsy.com/ and http://oliverlane.etsy.com/ to name a few), and am always looking for a new way to work with other talented and amazing Etsy sellers. I am so inspired by Etsy!!
How did you hear about Etsy?
>> My cousin Heather (http://letterstoelise.etsy.com/), who is ridiculously talented and crafty, told me about Etsy. She inspires me all the time!
Any words of advice to others?
>> Make your items unique! Take a good look at what’s available on Etsy and try to push yourself to be as inventive and creative as possible to make your items unique and original and only available in your shop! And only charge actual shipping rates, and REALLY refund shipping overages to customers. Really.
Unfortunately, SushiForBaby’s shop is closing February 9, due to a poorly-written law: http://www.handmadetoyalliance.org/
From Feb 1 to Feb 9: all in-stock items will be on clearance and I will no longer offer custom orders. Make sure to order your sushi before they are no longer available!!
That is pretty cool!
I'm sorry to hear the store is closing >.<