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Today we would like to introduce you to Etsy shop FiddledeeDeeCraft
FiddledeeDeeCraft has been selling on Etsy since November 2011, she sell stunning handmade felt food and felt toys for kids! Today she is sharing a little about her shop and selling handmade items.

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What motivated you to start your shop?
My daughter had an Etsy shop while she was in school, and she told me it would be a great place to sell the stuff I was making. She helped me with the setup and did all my shop graphics!

What is the story behind your shop name?
My family nickname is Dee. I wanted a shop name that included my name, and sounded fun. Yeah, 'fiddle dee dee' is just fun to say!

What surprised you most about having your own craft / online shop?
The amount of time it takes for photos/editing, listing, and then marketing your shop. When I first came to Etsy, I had the 'if you make it, they will come' mindset. Wrong! But I found some great Etsy teams to get involved with. The help and support I find on my teams is great!

What is your favourite creations from your shop?
I like the pancake breakfast set. This set is one of the first things I started making in my shop. It's also one of my most popular listings.
This year, I'm adding some new dolls that can be customized (hair color, skin color). As I work on them, they are becoming some of my favorites, too!

What do you find most challenging about being an Etsy seller?
It can be a struggle to keep items stocked and find time to add new ones. I have lots of ideas for things I want to make, but my time is so limited.
I don't like working on the same thing for too long, so I always have a basket full of stuff that's cut or in progress. Every couple of weeks, I have a cutting day for items I'm low on. While I'm cutting, I try to add something new as I go.

What's your personal philosophy behind your shop / products?
Pretend play is so much fun for kids, and it doesn't require any fancy equipment! When my girls were little, they spent hours in their play kitchen, pretending to shop for groceries or make dinner. I always liked to have things that encouraged their creative play. Now, these are the kinds of things I like to make for my shop, and the things I'll keep making for my grand kids.

What do you do when you aren't working?
Outside my Etsy shop, I work 4 days a week as an HR manager. My husband and I enjoy DIY projects around the house and yard, and we love to go camping. One of our daughters lives in South Carolina, near lots of places for camping and hiking. Our youngest daughter lives close by - I get to see her several times a week. We like to go to the gym together. I also have a little garden that doesn't get enough attention.

Anything else you'd like to tell us or share?
In July, I'll be a first-time grandma! I expect our trips to South Carolina will become more frequent...

FiddledeeDeeCraft is offering a 15% discount in her shop on orders over $30. To use the coupon visit her etsy store and enter code "FELTFUN15" at checkout. Valid until March 31 2014.


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