Meet Etsy Fortune Cookie Maker: worthafortune

I'm a sucker for all things Asian - and what's better than a fortune cookie, right? How about a really BIG one! I saw this on Etsy the other day and fell in love with it. You can even customize your own fortune! How cool is that?!

The creative candy maker behind worthafortune is a Utah native and mother to two boys, ages 8 and 5. "I grew up watching my Mom make dinner and desert every night, and...I knew I wanted to cook for a living" she explains. "That led me to working at restaurants, for caterers, and finally my own candy store." She soon discovered Etsy and has been up and running ever since. "I have a very supportive husband and kids, which allows me to experiment with recipes. They are my inspirations, (be)cause they are willing to try everything I come up with," she jokes. First and foremost to her are taste and presentation. "It tastes wonderful, but the packaging is very different and fun, (just like me)." She's been playing with candy her whole life, melting chocolate chips and peanut butter together, then freezing them. "It started as a hobby and still is. No matter how much I am producing, I will never consider it a job." Please check out her shop: http://worthafortune.etsy.com/

-Wendy Baylis

Dharma Designs

http://dharmadesigns.etsy.com

Meet Etsy Card Artist: steliedesigns

Stephanie Giesen-Kath is the fresh talent behind Stelie Designs and I was lucky enough to stumble upon her recently while perusing Etsy. I saw her Asian engagement card and fell in love with the classy, contemporary design that still captures a fascinating culture. Aside from her art, she is also a busy stay at home mom to three year old fraternal twins (I'm an identical twin, myself). "There is never a dull moment in our home and it’s only quiet when the kids are sleeping," she says. Not surprisingly, she finds a lot of inspiration in them. Currently she specializes in custom invitations and announcements for all occasions, including weddings and baby showers. "It's important to me to bring simple delights to everyone who receives a handmade card or invitation," she explains. She started making her cards 12 years ago for family and friends and turned her hobby into her job. "I left the corporate retail design world a year ago to spend more time with my kids. Now I have the best of both worlds, kids during the day and creating during the night." She recommends her fellow artists "find a product you love making and believe in, then know it takes time and perseverance." Please check out her shop: http://steliedesigns.etsy.com/

-Wendy Baylis

Dharma Designs

http://dharmadesigns.etsy.com

My other passion: Portraits

While I focus on jewelry in my Etsy shop I have two other passions: writing on my fictional novel about a medevac helicopter crew in the Vietnam War - and pencil portrats. I have never persued it professionaly, but I wanted to share my work with my friends...These are some of my favorite pieces...

-Wendy Baylis