Featuring Made by Melissa

Melissa is this months Featured Etsy Blogger, and she agreed to let me interview her! I had a lot of un getting to know a little bit more about Melissa. She's a team mate I hadn't really had much of a chance to connect with before now, and we have a lot of the same interests!

1. What type of art work do you do?

I make beaded jewelry and I crochet

2. How did you get started doing art work?

I started making jewelry at a very young age - I remember playing with my great aunt's old broken costume jewelry when I was only 5 or 6 years old. Every day I would string myself a new necklace and tie a bow with the string around my neck. I thought I was so gorgegous!! LOL!

I started crocheting when I was about 13. A family friend taught me the basics, then a few years later another family friend taught me some more. The rest I picked up from reading patterns and looking at finished pieces made by other people.

3. Do you do any other crafts?

I bake for holidays and special occasions, I also make photo albums for my son every year (ok, so I only made one so far, and I am way behind on the others, but in my head, I claim that I do it.)

4. Is there a story behind your shop name?

Nothing! Its pretty simple. I'm Melissa, and I made the things in my shop. I often wish I came up with something more catchy or creative, but I don't think its worth it to change anything right now.

5. What's your favorite piece in your shop right now?

Can I cheat and pick two? I love my Halloween Star Baby Blanket - http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=32046675 - its my new favorite blanket pattern and I am having a lot of fun with it. Olivia Octapus is my other favorite item right now - http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=30125270 - she was so much fun to make and I've had that yarn in my stash for so long and never really knew what to do with it, then suddenly, I thought, a red and pink striped octapus would just be so much fun!

6. Where do you sell your work?

On Etsy and at local craft shows.

7. Do you blog?

Yes, I do! http://madebymelissa.blogspot.com

8. Are you on any social networks you'd like to share?

Certainly! Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/madebymelissa;

Facebook: http://artist.to/madebymelissa/

and Flickr: http://www.flickr.com/madebymelissa

9. Do you watch or listen to anything while you work? If so, what?

Not usually, it all depends. If I am alone, then I can blast the radio or watch some NCIS reruns. If my little man is around, then I crochet while he watches whatever he is interested in at the time. I actually, get a lot of crocheting done during baseball season and with the playoffs coming up, I see myself staying up late and crocheting until the games end!

10. Tell us one random fact about your self *wink*

This one always seems to shock people - I do not know how to ride a bike and I have no desire to learn. My father pushed me to learn to ride, I had a nasty fall that resulted in my mother picking rocks out of my elbow and knee and decided that I was done with it.