Friday Feature -- PurpleHug

This week's featured shop is PurpleHug. For more featured shop interviews, click here.

Tell me two (or more!) interesting things about you.

I have many part-time jobs: Office manager at a real estate office (I am also a realtor), Treasurer for my church, Virtual assistant from home (website work for realtors) and now Etsy shop owner.

What do you sell in your Etsy shop?

I sell a variety of items. I like to dabble in many different types of crafts. I sell jewelry --bracelets, earrings, cell charms, wine glass charms -- scarves, baby bibs and burp cloths.

To which Etsy Street Teams do you belong? I belong to the Etsymom street team and Etsy believer street team.

What inspires your creations?
My kids helped inspire the bibs and bracelets that I have in my shop. The other items blossomed from them.

Tell me a bit about your creative process and/or how you learned to do what you do.

For the bibs, I was searching for a really good moisture-proof bib, as my daughter slobbered so much I thought should wouldn't have any spit left. Not finding anything that suited me, I created my own. My bibs have a gore-tex lining inside. It stops moisture from reaching baby's clothes and skin and at the same time is a breathable fabric - helping the top layer dry fast. I learned to sew in school and am able to create my own patterns. For the jewelry, I got started by "copying" another coil bracelet (for my own use) to help me keep track of when my baby last ate (instead of relying on memory or a paper log). Then I migrated to creating "regular" beaded coil bracelets and earrings. I learn best by examining other similar items and visualizing how they are put together.

What is your favorite item in your shop (currently for sale or previously sold)? Why is it your favorite?

Right now, I think my favorite item is the phrase bracelet .

It reminds me of the bracelet I had as a child with my name on it. I've modified the design to fit the coil construction that I use in my bracelets. I also offer additional suggestions for the phrase on the bracelet, any 1 or 2 word phrase ("Hope", "Believe", "Have Faith", "Give Thanks", "Princess", a nickname, your name, your favorite Bible verse - the sky is the limit!)

What 3 words would you use to describe yourself?
Thinker - my mind is always working. I get that quality from my dad. In fact, he helped with my bib creation.
Industrious - I have trouble just sitting around doing nothing.
Helpful - I am always looking for ways to help people, whether with my talents or my resources.

What do you like about Etsy?
The community that is behind Etsy - the sellers and buyers. You don't get that with other shopping and auction sites. I like that it is NOT an auction - my work is valuable and I don't want it to sell too cheap.

What makes your shop unique?
The broad nature of items available. I think a buyer could be in the market for many types of items in the same shopping trip. They save on shipping if they get it all at one shop.

What advice do you have for other folks selling or buying on Etsy?
Read the forums for information - what you need to know is there, you just have to look for it and read it.

Where else can we find out more about you and/or your creations?
I have a website that gives more background about me and the inspiration behind many of my items. It also has all the options available in customizing an item just for you. http://www.PurpleHug.com .