Etsy Knitters and Crocheters on Parade

Nevena Mileva comes to us from across the pond with some wonderful talents. You can visit her shop by copying and pasting her link below or click on the Title Etsy Knitter and Crocheters on Parade above. You will love her textured and beautiful scarves and baby items.

How did you hear about Etsy?

I live in Bulgaria, it's a small country in south-eastern Europe where
only a small number of people know that there is such amazing place
like etsy.com. I have a great post with videos about Bulgaria on my
blog http://boutiqueaholic.blogspot.com/2009/12/my-country-bulgaria-in-videos.html
Last year, a friend of mine was searching for online stores for good
Christmas sales. She told me about this place. When I started
searching in etsy stores, I got lost in so rich choice of handmade
items.

What made you decide to sell on Etsy?

I always wanted to open a store and sell my hand knitted scarves and
baby clothing. However, my full-time job, and pregnancy didn't bring
enough confidence in this picture.
When my beautiful baby daughter came to the world, she brought new
hope and faith in myself. I found knitting section and crochet
section and I was happily surprised that someone is selling so many
handmade creations. At that time the idea that etsy.com is an easy way
to create and maintain shop came into play. With etsy, I figured, I
wouldn't have to care about renting and maintaining a physical shop,
and at the same time I'd have flexible working hours. Now I stay at
home as mother, enjoy spending time with my baby daughter, my
knitting, and promoting my shop via interesting online tools. My shop
is www.nevita.etsy.com

How did you originally get into Handknit and Gobelin making business?
I learned to knit and make gobelin tapestry, when I was a child. I
went to my grandparent's home, during school offs. My grandmother
thought me different handmade techniques, such as knit, crochet, sewing
and others. During the years, I was paying more attention to knitting
and gobelin tapestry, and found I enjoyed it a lot. It became my
hobby, and after my daughter's birth I decided I was determined to
share the products of my passion with people around the world.

What motivates and inspires you to create?

Winter scarves... When I was young girl, my mother kept telling me to
wear scarves so I wouldn't get cold. I hated scarves! That is, until
the day I knitted myself a very colorful, soft, and pleasant to touch
and look at piece of happiness (yes, a scarf!). My classmates loved
it. That motivated me to make more scarves, because I found scarves
could be joy, emotions, and good looking fun - yes staying warm became
not so bad experience after all :)
Inspiration sources have been changing during my path in life. At
some point in time, I enjoyed to come back home, and to get calm and
be all by myself while making my needlepoint tapestries.
At other times, inspiration was there, but I couldn't tell where it
came from, so I'd like to think of it as coming from deep within the
human soul.
Now I am motivated from the smile of my baby daughter and the look of
her eyes. In addition, when I look and reflect on the results of my
hand made creations I've made during the years, I get a good feeling
of accomplishment, and I want to do more. I'm proud of my winter
scarves, my gobelins, and last but not least my baby clothing.

What do you like most about being a seller?

Being a seller is something new for me. I like to learn new things,
find information too. I learn how to sell by reading a lot of articles
from experienced etsy sellers. It is not easy work, I love to create,
but honestly, I don't know how to sell my creations. It is something I
want to learn to do. Being a seller is a new opportunity to bring joy
to people.


What are your interests outside etsy?

I like the Human Resources area and I am finishing my masters degree
in Human Resources management. I enjoy interacting with people.

I love to travel and regularly organize small trips through my country.

I think Nevena has found her niche, don't you.