Many thanks to Karin, the Etsy shop owner of Bonnetique, for participating in an exclusive little interview for us!
How did you come up with your business/shop name…
► At first I was actually only making bonnets and hence came up with the name Bonnetique. Now I obviously create lots of other items too, but will probably always make bonnets and the name stays.
Can you share a little background about your logo…
► I designed my own logo. For all my personal logos I incorporate a butterfly. It is in honor of my daughter in Heaven; we released butterflies at her funeral and therefore butterflies always reminds me of her. She is really the reason I am doing what I am doing today, a series of events. The full story is on my Etsy page.
► I create bonnets, halos and sets for mainly newborn photographers. I make grapevine halos usually embellished with paper flowers, berries and moss yarn. I do have a mini moss blanket that makes an excellent addition to the halo. I also make a ‘delicate’ grapevine selection where the halos are embellished with real dried flowers. Another halo is my silk halo with rhinestones, and finally I have my yarn halos which are very soft and sold with wraps. All my halos are adjustable in size. I also sell bonnets, both pixie and round, and occasionally make a pants and hat set.
Do you have a “top seller” or personal favorite item?
► My top sellers are my grapevine halos – and the matching blanket. I also have an aqua bonnet that never lasts very long in my shop.
Where can we find your work?
Where are you based?
► In Spokane, Washington.
Where do you get your inspiration?
► As a newborn photographer as well, I was starting to get ideas for props and decided to make them into reality. I try to make items I myself would use and hope others like my style – although I certainly also do custom items.
► As a newborn photographer as well, I was starting to get ideas for props and decided to make them into reality. I try to make items I myself would use and hope others like my style – although I certainly also do custom items.
What are your favorite books or blogs?
► I don’t have time for books or blogs – I am more of a Pinterest kind of person 🙂
You cannot live without…
► My glue gun – or should I say all three of them.. I use them constantly!
You’re not a fan of…
► My mess and not being able to find things I know I have – but with several containers of yarn, ribbon and flowers I guess that is bound to happen.
We wouldn’t guess that…
► My sales mean that I can afford buying Christmas gifts and other things for my children, like a playground, a trampoline, a sandbox However as a very busy stay at home mom of four, homeschooler, photographer, and hospital volunteer – creating items for Bonnetique is not only a way to generate satisfying extra income, it is actually also one of my ways to refresh and renew. I truly enjoy what I do, and positive feedback and returning customers only makes it even more enjoyable.
One day, you hope to…
► Be able to actually afford a vacation. It has probably been about 5 years since we’ve had a real vacation.
Do you have advice for other Etsy shop owners?
► Research and understand how Etsy works, in particular with regards to tags, titles and search engines. I actually had items listed on Etsy for 1 ½ year without a single sale (all my sales were through Facebook) before a friend taught me the basics and then my sales quickly increased.
► Research and understand how Etsy works, in particular with regards to tags, titles and search engines. I actually had items listed on Etsy for 1 ½ year without a single sale (all my sales were through Facebook) before a friend taught me the basics and then my sales quickly increased.
Please join us in thanking this amazing Etsy shop for taking the time to participate in our spotlight interview!
Visit Bonnetique now!
Visit Bonnetique now!
