Being as busy as I am, I don’t have time to free-craft. My free time is spent doing laundry, lol. My love of music has to take a backseat to my family and my business, but it’s not anything I could list here or show you in a picture.
Melinda Martin
Random Facts About You?I'm a stay-at-home mom who also homeschools.
I would not trade the knowledge I have at 33 for the body I had at 21.
I have taught myself to sew and play the piano in the last year and a half.
I always wished I was a twin.
What got you started crafting?
I absolutely hate spending money if it's something I can do myself. Also, I have been involved in Sunday School and other kids programs at my church for several years now. The third Wednesday of each month I do my part in our "Kids Can" program by leading "Kids Can Craft". Plus, being a homeschooling mom, crafting is necessary to our balanced education.
What is your source of inspiration?
Three years ago I lost my job, which, like so many others, cut our income in half. It was unexpected and devastating but also a blessing in disguise. However, just because I was broke didn't mean I wanted to stop decorating my home. This has been the core of my inspiration in setting up shop: to be able to offer other women who may or may not be in a similar situation the ability to add some simple beauty to their home by providing a quality product at a very reasonable price.
What have you made recently?
Since I was roughly 17, I have worked not only on a computer as an end-user, but I have worked installing and maintaining entire networks. Large networks. Look behind or under your desk. See all those cables? Now, imagine that times 250. In a business, all of those cables lead to somewhere, whether electrical or network. I was the girl running the network cables, binding the cables, caressing the cables. Okay, so I wasn’t caressing them, but I was involved with cables. I enjoy doing what I do, because I know there are other people out there that shrink away at the sight of messy cables.
Since I offer my customers so many options to bring this piece to life for their home, my personalization goes into my customer service: I try to have amazing response time, full of my middle-child of 7 personality, and make sure it is shipped as neatly and as pretty as possible.
Where do you sell your crafts presently?
I fell in love with the Etsy format, and I also sell locally. Even in a small town, don't underestimate your customer base.
Why are handmade crafts important to you?
Quality! When you can track an item back to one individual that is responsible for making that product of her own will, determination, and volition then most of the time you will find that the amount of care that has gone into that piece is worth far more than she could ever hope to actually sell it for. Also, my grandmother was a crafter who sold her baked goods and other crafts.
Find Me
LocationMontalba, TX
Email Address
Melinda Martin
Personal Website
http://www.MamaMellyMartin.etsy.com
@mamamellymartin
http://www.facebook.com/mamamelly