FABULOUS FRIDAY FINDS: RETROROCKINGCAFE

This Guitar Hero-OOAK Necklace is from Leah from RetrorockingCafe, a truly creative lady and a fantastic crafter. What do you like about this necklace? We’d like to hear from you!

 

 

1.     Tell me a little about yourself.

I guess I am like a lot of people here on Etsy that I have met. We get a lot of joy simply from the people we meet and who cross our paths one way or another. Also like me, I find it a place of joy,comfort and therapy.

2. Where does your inspiration come from when crafting?

I would say it started when I was very young. My grandpa was a self taught craftsman, furniture make and woodworker. My mom is an artist. She always had wonderfully fun and creative things for us to do. Always something creative even when it may not have seemed that way. Housework, chores, baking, reading, gardening etc all were adventures in some creative form or another. I also used to love to write and take photographs. I guess I did a lot of creative things when I was young. I would embroider, macramé, rug hooking, all kinds of things.Just never really thought of myself as a crafter or artist. Ultimately I earned a degree in Art Education. It came to me a little later in life than most. While I was always creative and still looking for a creative career, it wasn't until I was majoring in Photography, then had a life and death illness. When I went back to college after that I had no idea what I would do with a degree in photography but so much wanted to still pursue the arts. It was a wonderful and truly an epiphany for me when it occurred to me what I was SUPPOSE to do and be-an Art Teacher.
I really NEVER would have thought in my wildest dreams that I would be a teacher at all. Let alone an art teacher or a "real" artist. But I was and it was probably the best thing I ever did with my life and I miss it a lot. I really didnt get the chance to explore that for as long as I had planned and hoped for.

 

3.     Who taught you and how did you learn to craft?

Again, my grandpa and my mom. I took a lot of art classes and went to summer camp art programs, after school. Anything I could do I did. I volunteered for many things and taught arts and crafts even when I was very young. But never really did think of myself as an "artist or crafter" I was going to major in Fashion Design when I first began college because I wanted to create fun and cool clothes for Tall and Plus Size. When I was growing up there were no cute clothes. I sewed a lot which I taught myself at first. The in Middle school we had Home Economics Class which gave me other ways to learn how to create. I also really enjoyed Shop class as my grandpa was a self taught furniture maker and wood craftsman. I am pretty sure my mom got her creative genes from my grandpa. I loved going to his store/shop. The smell of the fresh sawed wood, even today brings back vivid and happy memories.

4.     Any Specific Tips you have for newbie crafters starting a business in Etsy?

RESEARCH, RESEARCH, RESEARCH. EVERYTHING AND ANYTHING YOU CAN THINK OF AND ANYTHING YOU DON’T

 

5.      Name 3 websites you couldn’t live without.

Etsy of course : ). As not only am I a Shop owner, I am also a patron. I have learned a lot from Etsy.
I have to have a great search engine to do research. Not sure if I'd call it a website but gotta have my google. The USPS. As that is where I go to get shipping estimates, free shipping materials, schedule package pick ups and lots of other helpful information for my shop and personal uses. I must also have dictionary/thesaurus as well as Wikipedia. They help me a lot with my research too. Funny thing is, before discovering Etsy, my answer would have been facebook....

 

6.        What are your 3 favorite shops and why.

I'm not going to name any specifically as I have found so many wonderful shops and owners here on Etsy. People who I have and have not purchased from. I love to see all the creativity and fun supplies that people offer. I love to learn from people and help them when I can too. I really enjoy seeing peoples creations and THEIR inspirations. As that inspires me probably more than anything else.

 

7.        Where do you see your crafting business in 10 years?

I cannot answer a question like this for me or anyone. While time does really go by so fast, it also has a longevity as well. 7 years, even 1 year I cannot say. I have had a lot of life experiences. All I know is that it is ever changing and moving. I hope in much less time than 7 years to have some of my more personal works of arts and crafting to showcase in my Etsy shop as well as the fun things I am learning about and doing now.

 

 

Visit her etsy shop: https://www.etsy.com/people/leahsemporium2013