Etsy Interview & Giveaway with The Daily Pincushion

Thursday, February 11, 2010

(Psst... don't forget to enter the giveaway from Yalipaz, too!)

Since I've been sewing more lately, pincushions have become a little obsession of mine. There's just something about how you can use a beautiful little work of art for such a utilitarian purpose! I have been eyeing up the gorgeous felt ones at The Daily Pincushion for a while now. Let's learn more...


Etsy Shop: The Daily Pincushion
Other Etsy Shop: The Daily Vintage


Tell us a bit about yourself, Cathy.

I live in Florida now - my sister Jamie and I share a house in Lake Worth.
We are from New York. My dad's family came over from Germany in the 1860's before the Civil War. They settled on Manhattan Island. They once had a farm on the upper west side. My Mom is first generation Italian. The Greatest Generation. I grew up on Long Island. I was a Chef for 25 years. Now I’m an artist with a full time job at home on Etsy. I love what I do now, although I still work long hours. I have always been creative and am so happy to be able to do it for a living.



What 5 words would you use to describe yourself?
Creative
Insular
Pragmatic
Irreverent
Reliable





Tell us a bit about your Etsy shop.
My Etsy shop The Daily Pincushion came about after my last stint as an executive chef in a Boca country club. Enough was enough! I needed to earn a living and I was determined not to cook outside the house again. I thought I would open some kind of baking business – cookies or cupcakes. During an Internet hunt for inspiration I saw a cupcake that was made of felt. It was a pincushion. That person sold them on a site called Etsy. I knew I could do that and I wanted to do that. I looked at many things I could make but I kept coming back to pincushions. I have always sewn, and they
just clicked with me. I combined a style I had been doing with felt doll clothes and a simple shape of pincushion and I made my first one. When I got good at it (after about a hundred) I opened the Etsy shop The Daily Pincushion (because it took the entire day to make one)! Now I have some custom dies that help me do things quicker and more consistently, but a lot is still cut by hand. Everything is hand sewn and embroidered. My sister has quite a few popular designs too and she does the taxes bless her and most of the post office trips. She also has a 9- 5 job. Working with her helps me break out of my parameters. Whenever I start a big project or when I would write a new menu I built in the dogma. Rules to live by - limits with color or material and I work within that. It makes it easier for me at first to get comfortable and to stretch the limits of what I can do within those limits. Then I break them when I'm comfortable. And set new ones!


What 5 words would you use to describe your shop?
Colorful

Unique
Happy
Helpful
Tactile




Give your 5 favorite websites.
Nest Decorating: A Journal
Posie Gets Cozy
Cute Overload
Very Short List
wfuv.org radio



Give your 5 favorite Etsy shops.
Bossys Feltworks
Mincing Mockingbird
Two Kazoos
Gretchen Kramp
Linda Solovic
I wish I could name ten!



What advice would you give other Etsy sellers?
Be prepared to work hard, be consistent, limit you time on the computer and make things. Be nice.



Anything else you would like to share?
I love what I do. I love when people are happy with their pincushions. I wish I knew more about technology to have a website with a shopping cart. Then I would sell kits. Maybe after we move.


http://www.etsy.com/shop/TheDailyPincushion
GIVEAWAY!
Cathy is so kind to offer...
**Pincushion & Emery Set of Choice**
Thanks so much, Cathy!

Here's how to enter:

Visit The Daily Pincushion and leave a comment on this post
mentioning your favorite item.

For more chances to win, leave a separate post for each of the following:

*Become a Follower of EtsyInterviews.
*Subscribe to EtsyInterviews via RSS.
*Tweet about this giveaway (please leave link to tweet).
*Follow B.Inspired Mama on Twitter.
*Become a fan of B.Inspired Vintage on Facebook.
*Share the giveaway on Facebook.
*Blog about the giveaway (please leave the link)
*Add EtsyInterviews to your blogroll.
*Submit to be Featured on EtsyInterviews, too!


The winner will be chosen via Random.org on Wednesday, February 17th at 9PM EST. The winner will be emailed within 24 hours. Please make sure your email is in your profile or in the comment. GOOD LUCK!

155 comments:

Anonymous said...

Those are all so beautiful, but my favorite is the hydrangea pincushion.

Anonymous said...

Beautiful pincushions of the the sweet rodeo.Thanks Helen

malfie@care2.com

peggy aplSEEDS said...

wow, these are beautiful! my favorite is
Sweetheart of the Rodeo Pincushion. it's amazing!

Anonymous said...

I found 3 favorites:

Vintage Hankie Inspired Pincushion
White Carnation on Baby Blue Pincushion
Big Yellow Flower and Friends Pincushion

Deborah
comfortjoydesigns AT gmail DOT com

Michigan Addy Ready

Mrs. Olsen said...

How do I choose??? One of my favorites is the pink hydrangea pincushion. rebolsen at gmail dot com

Mrs. Olsen said...

Blogged it: http://bestofgiveaways.blogspot.com/2010/02/handmade-felt-pincushion.html
rebolsen at gmail dot com

Julia said...

Oh my god.. the more I look, the more I can't decide... I love the colour and pattern of Moss and Yellow, but I also love the 3 dimensional pinkness of Pink Hydrangea... and then there's Pink Pansy on Willow with the colour shaded petals.... I want them all.

sugareaterATgmailDOTcom

amii said...

the orange blossom pincushion is so lovely! it would really add a splash of color to my room, not to mention be useful for holding pins and whatnot :)

thanks for the chance to win!

amiichong at gmail dot com

amii said...

i follow etsy interviews with google friend connect. thanks!

amiichong at gmail dot com

amii said...

i follow binspiredmama on twitter as SatinCorset. thanks!

amiichong at gmail dot com

amii said...

i tweeted this giveaway!

http://twitter.com/satincorset/status/8999290461

thanks!

amiichong at gmail dot com

amii said...

i subscribe to etsy interviews via RSS with my gmail account. thanks!

amiichong at gmail dot com

Rebecca T. said...

I LOVE this Red Rodeo pincushion!

http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=40282100

Your pincushions are amazing! :)

Great shop, great giveaway! Thanks so much for the opportunity.

Sincerely,
Becca

Shelby said...

My favorite is the big strawberry blossom pincushion!

srobinson8561 at bryan.edu

Rebecca T. said...

Oops, forgot to leave my email address in my previous entry!

pennyroyaltea168@gmail.com

And my etsy shop is: www.FunktapusDesigns.etsy.com

Just added you to my blogroll, too!

http://funktapus.wordpress.com/

Thanks so much!

Sincerely,
Becca

Yuri said...

Oh my, all of the pincushions are so pretty and chic! It's so hard to choose one!
One of my fave is the White Carnation on Baby Blue Pincushion, very lovely!


yuri.kristi at gmail dotcom

Sara Kersten said...

Very pretty! My favourite is the Pink Pansy on Pea Green Pincushion. Nice choice of colors!
saramstevens@gmail.com

Sara Kersten said...

I am following the blog
saramstevens@gmail.com

♥ meninheira ♥ said...

oH PLEASE! I can't choose only one!!
I love:
Baby Blue and Red on Bronze Pincushion
Sweetheart of the Rodeo Pincushion
Vintage Hankie Inspired Pincushion and...

Ok, ok, I love them all!! :D

Hugs from Spain
meninheira at gmail dot com

Anonymous said...

Wow, they're so pretty that it was hard to choose! One of my favorites it the "Little Green Flowers on Lavender Pincushion."

Anonymous said...

I am a follower! google id: robolegojupiter

Anonymous said...

I am subscribed via RSS on Google Reader.

Anonymous said...

I followed B.Inspired Mama on Twitter.

Anonymous said...

I fanned B.Inspired Vintage on Facebook. user name: Stephanie Lo

Anonymous said...

I blogged it here: http://robolegojupiter.blogspot.com/2010/02/pincushion-emery-set-of-choice.html

Bethany said...

SO hard to choose, but I think my fave is Dogwood on pink. LOVE IT!

http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=38829785

I love her work AND her workSPACE! Wow!

logan 4301 @yahoo.com

Bethany said...

I follow Etsy Interviews!

logan4301 @yahoo.com

Angie said...

These are easily the ,most beautiful pin cushions I have ever seen in my life! I love them all...if you make me pick a favorite, I'd pick the Cherry Blossom one.

THanks
Angie
rennieangie at gmail dot com

Angie said...

Follower here!

Thanks
Angie
rennieangie at gmail dot com

Angie said...

Subscriber now!

rennieangie at gmail dot com

PerfectBlueMoon said...

I love the violet Blue pincushion!

Anna
perfectbluemoon@gmail[dot]com

PerfectBlueMoon said...

I'm a public follower of Etsy Interviews!

Anna
perfectbluemoon@gmail[dot]com

PerfectBlueMoon said...

I follow B Inspired Mama on twitter!

Anna
perfectbluemoon@gmail[dot]com

PerfectBlueMoon said...

I'm a facebook fan of Inspired Vintage!

Anna
perfectbluemoon@gmail[dot]com

PerfectBlueMoon said...

I tweeted about this giveaway!
http://twitter.com/perfectbluemoon/status/9009411213

Anna
perfectbluemoon@gmail[dot]com

PerfectBlueMoon said...

I changed my facebook status to let my friends know about this giveaway!

Anna
perfectbluemoon@gmail[dot]com

Brooke said...

Beautiful colors and designs. But I like the Sweetheart of the Rodeo design best.
shutterboo@gmail.com

Cindy said...

How do I pick just one!?!? They are all so beautiful. Hmm... I guess if I have to choose just one favorite then it would be "Apricot and Lemon Hydrangea"

http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=13753287

clogzilla(at)yahoo(dot)com

Cindy said...

I follow your blog

clogzilla(at)yahoo(dot)com

Cindy said...

I subscribe via Yahoo reader

clogzilla(at)yahoo(dot)com

Cindy said...

I'm following B.Inspired Mama on Twitter via @hellcatvintage

clogzilla(at)yahoo(dot)com

Lisa said...

love the mini cherry blossom pin cushion! almost too pretty to put a pin in! very cute. very detailed and beautiful work!

lmm_lisa@hotmail.com

Dovile said...

My favorite item is the Pink Hydrangea Pincushion - lovely colors!

spamscape [at] gmail [dot] com

clenna said...

My favorite is the Little Green Flowers on Lavender Pincushion.

clenna at aol dot com

clenna said...

I subscribe via RSS

clenna at aol dot com

clenna said...

I follow

clenna at aol dot com

clenna said...

I'm a fan of B.Inspired Vintage on FB

clenna at aol dot com

Dovile said...

I'm a follower of Etsyinterviews

spamscape [at] gmail [dot] com

Dovile said...

I subscribed to Etsyinterviews posts RSS in my Google Reader

spamscape [at] gmail [dot] com

Maryanne said...

I love the colors in the Red Rodeo Pincushion! What a lovely shop! Thanks for the chance!

bagelcreations@sbcglobal.net

Maryanne said...

Now following Etsy Interviews!

Maryanne said...

Also following on twitter!

That Bald Chick said...

My favorite item would be the packs of felt, because I envision myself using them to make play food. But my favorite pin cushion would be the red zinnia.
ladyvdzine[at]yahoo[dot]com

That Bald Chick said...

I follow as Lady V dZine. ladyvdzine[at]yahoo[dot]com

Maryanne said...

Just tweeted about the giveaway!
http://twitter.com/bagelcreations/status/9013298399

Beth Stone said...

They're all beautiful, but my favorites are the Orange Blossom Pincushion and the Pumpkin Spice Pincushion. Lovely! Thanks for the giveaway!

Beth Stone said...

http://twitter.com/bethstonestudio I tweeted!

Beth Stone said...

I posted on facebook!

Beth Stone said...

I followed via RSS

Beth Stone said...

I followed via Google Friend Connect!

Rosa Forino said...

WOW!!! This is really some wonderful candy.. Thanks for a chance to win..
saluti dall'italia

my favorites is Orange Blossom Pincushion (http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=40089063)

Beth Stone said...

I followed Binspired on Twitter! @bethstonestudio

Rosa Forino said...

public the post on http://blogcandymania.blogspot.com/2010/02/blog-candy-di-etsyinterviews.html
Hugs, rosa

Unknown said...

Your work is amazing! My favorite is the Pink Pansy on Willow pincushion.

judyweicker(at)gmail(dot)com

Rosa Forino said...

i am new follower ;-)

Beth Stone said...

Added to my blogroll - http://bethstonestudio.blogspot.com

Cabootique said...

I love the Vintage Hankie Inspired Pincushion.

carethediva[at]hotmail[dot]com

RR said...

I like the Orange Blossom Pincushion. Beautiful!

Beth Stone said...

Submitted an interview about my Etsy shop!

Steph said...

I love Cathy! Her pincushions are the best and she is such a hoot. My favorite pincushion is the one with the dogwood flower. I love them all really.

Lyudmila said...

I like the Big Strawberry Blossom Pincushion. Beautiful!

Lyudmila said...

Tweet http://twitter.com/Ludmilochka/status/9021644934

Nanbon44 said...

I can't just choose one, My favorites are Golden Harvest, Sunflower, Dogwood and the Pink Hydrangea, I collect PC and I just love them all....

M said...

I love the dogwood blossom pincushion! Thanks for making this problem!

mDOTkurokoATgmailDOTcom

Melody said...

I like Dogwood Blossom Pink Pincushion. They are native to my state.

melodyj(at)gmail(dot)com

Steph said...

I've posted this giveaway on facebook. I am now a fan of B. Inspired on facebook. I am now following Etsy Interviews blog.
:-D

Anonymous said...

I have to choose just one?? Oh my!.

The Pink and Green Valentine Pincushion, the Sunflower Pincushion, and the Blue and Violet Tulips Pincushion are among my favorites.

They're all so very lovely!

badgermomma at gmail dot com

Anonymous said...

I follow EtsyInterviews.

Anonymous said...

I've subscribed.

Elena Rosenberg Wearable Fiber Art said...

These are some of the prettiest pincushions I've seen. From the shop, my fave is "White Carnation on Baby Blue Pincushion". Thank you!

Anonymous said...

I've tweeted.

http://twitter.com/badgermomma/statuses/9032188518

Anonymous said...

I follow binspiredmama on Twitter.

Anonymous said...

I'm a fan of yours on Facebook as Jenine Herrell.

Anonymous said...

I've blogged.

http://badgermomma.blogspot.com/2010/02/daily-pincushion-giveaway-ends-217.html

Anonymous said...

I've added EtsyInterviews to my blogroll.

http://badgermomma.blogspot.com

4smartmonkeys said...

There are so many that I like, hard to pick just one. This one really speaks to me- Violet Blue Pincushion.
Great giveaway!

4smartmonkeys said...

I follow!

debijackson said...

my fave is the sweetheart of the rodeo.. jacksond@nhr3.net

debijackson said...

I follow

bison61 said...

I like the Red Rodeo Pincushion

tiramisu392 (at) yahoo.com

lil misses' mama said...

so intricate and beautiful! i like the White Carnation on Baby Blue Pincushion very much!
email in profile

lil misses' mama said...

i follow your blog.
email in profile

Amy said...

The pincushions are all SO cute, but I think my favorite is the White Carnation on Baby Blue Pincushion.



amysweeps [at] gmail [dot] com

Amy said...

Following via Google Friend Connect.

amysweeps [at] gmail [dot] com

Amy said...

I subscribe to the blog's feed via Google Reader.

amysweeps [at] gmail [dot] com

Amy said...

tweet - http://twitter.com/neverdene/status/9040953884

amysweeps [at] gmail [dot] com

Amy said...

I'm following BInspiredMama on Twitter (http://twitter.com/neverdene).

amysweeps [at] gmail [dot] com

Amy said...

I became a fan of B.Inspired Vintage on Facebook (Amy M.).

amysweeps [at] gmail [dot] com

AmbreRose said...

I had a really hard time just chooseing one the I liked, so I've got it down to two of them. The Cherry Blossom and the Moss and Yellow Pincushion. All of your work is beautiful! ambrerose(!at)aol.com

AmbreRose said...

Tweeted about it! http://twitter.com/ambrerose1

elaine said...

Your pincushions are all so pretty! I especially like the Bronze and Yellow Forsythia Pincushion.

Elaine R
emrosser@shaw.ca

avalonne83 said...

Great giveaway!
I like the Folk Art Pincushion in Red.

Please count me in! Thanks.

avalonne83 [at] yahoo [dot] it

Anonymous said...

I love the red rodeo pincushion--so nice!
june_spirit2628 at hotmail dot com

momtoem said...

I like the Pink Pansy on Pea Green Pincushion

lejn05@yahoo.com

momtoem said...

Follower of EtsyInterviews.

lejn05@yahoo.com

momtoem said...

I subscribe to EtsyInterviews via RSS.

lejn05@yahoo.com

momtoem said...

fan of B.Inspired Vintage on Facebook (lena naef)

lejn05@yahoo.com

Melanie @ Whimsical Creations said...

Love the Lime and Yellow Mini Pincushion.

melanieadey at hotmail dot com

Melanie @ Whimsical Creations said...

following b inspired mama on twitter-melaniescrafts

Melanie @ Whimsical Creations said...

fan on facebook-melanie adey

Melanie @ Whimsical Creations said...

rss subscriber

Anonymous said...

Next to impossible to decide, but I will have to go with Moss and Yellow!

jakiesmom said...

amazing work! ilike either the red rodeo or the red zinnia cushions
nannypanpan@sbcglobal.net

Deb (Two Cheeky Monkeys) said...

Oh wow, I have loved this shop for some time now!!!

My favourite (so hard to choose) is the Cherry Blossom Pincushion. It's so cute. :)

Deb (Two Cheeky Monkeys) said...

I follow Etsy Interviews via Google now.

puffpastryshop said...

It's so hard to choose! I think I love the orange blossom pincushion the best. The cherry blossom is lovely as well.

puffpastryshop(at)gmail(dot)com

puffpastryshop said...

I follow you through google

puffpastryshop(at)gmail(dot)com

Alycia said...

oh i love your work! i've been a fan of your pincushions for a while now and my favorite item is the Pink and Green Pincushion: http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=36616653

curiouspug at hotmail.com

Alycia said...

i am also following you on twitter. i'm http://twitter.com/thecuriouspug :)

Alycia said...

i tweeted too!
http://twitter.com/thecuriouspug/status/9112334269

Alycia said...

and i'm follower of the etsyinterview blog now too :)

CathyH said...

All so beautiful, I like the red rodeo pincushion
cathyhorner at embarqmail dot com

CathyH said...

i follow
cathyhorner at embarqmail dot com

CathyH said...

facebook fan of b inspired vintage
cathyhorner at embarqmail dot com

jennifer57 said...

I love the White Carnation on Baby Blue Pincushion

Unknown said...

Hi, love her pink pansy pincushion
http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=37899375
www.lissylee77.etsy.com

Ronnie said...

I love them all! They are such great and well made pin cushions. My fave is this cute Orange Blossom Pincushion:

http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=40089063

Love the colors and design!

Ronit
internationalgiveaways[at]gmail[dot]com
http://internationalgiveaways.blogspot.com

Ronnie said...

I follow EtsyInterviews!

Ronit
internationalgiveaways[at]gmail[dot]com
http://internationalgiveaways.blogspot.com

Ronnie said...

I follow B.Inspired Mama on twitter!
@intlgiveaways

Ronit
internationalgiveaways[at]gmail[dot]com
http://internationalgiveaways.blogspot.com

Ronnie said...

I blogged about this giveaway! Here's the link:

http://internationalgiveaways.blogspot.com/2010/02/pincushion-emery-set-from-daily.html

Ronit
internationalgiveaways[at]gmail[dot]com
http://internationalgiveaways.blogspot.com

Katie | FashionFrugality.com said...

I am loving the White Carnation on Baby Blue Pincushion!
kkondek at gmail.com

Katie | FashionFrugality.com said...

New follower
kkondek at gmail.com

Katie | FashionFrugality.com said...

Subscribed via google reader
kkondek at gmail.com

Katie | FashionFrugality.com said...

Tweet! http://twitter.com/ktkatherine/status/9165721965
kkondek at gmail.com

Ronnie said...

I subscribed to your blog via email!

Ronit
internationalgiveaways[at]gmail[dot]com
http://internationalgiveaways.blogspot.com

Ronnie said...

I follow Snow White's Blog Shop publicly with Google Friend Connect!

Ronit
internationalgiveaways[at]gmail[dot]com
http://internationalgiveaways.blogspot.com

Ronnie said...

I blogged about this giveaway!
Here's the link:

http://internationalgiveaways.blogspot.com/2010/02/cream-body-wash-from-snow-whites-blog.html

Ronit
internationalgiveaways[at]gmail[dot]com
http://internationalgiveaways.blogspot.com

ktkins said...

I love the Orange Blossom Pincushion!

orangegirl779@hotmail.com

Mariel said...

I love the orange blossom pin cushion with the little bee. Adorable! I have been admiring her pin cushions on Etsy for a while...

Debbie said...

My absolute favorite is the Apricot and Lemon Hydrangea Pincushion. Thanks for counting me in.

Debbie said...

I have become a follower of etsyinterviews.

Debbie said...

I have put etsyinterviews in my google reader.

dymphna said...

i love the strawberry one and the
Pink Pansy on Pea Green

dymphna said...

follower

dymphna said...

feed subscriber

dymphna said...

follow on twitter

dymphna said...

fb fan

Um Omer said...

i like Pink and Green Pincushion

i hope i win

Michelle said...

My favorite is the Red Zinnia pin cushion! Love these!!

mandm_2002 at hotmail dot com

Jblanton said...

wow so beautiful its hard to choose one- I will pick the pink pansy on pea green pincushion

ejxd95@gmail.com

Jblanton said...

follower of estyinterviews

Jblanton said...

subscribed to etsyinterviews with google reader

Jblanton said...

following b inspired mama on twitter-jblanton41

Jamie said...

I like the sweetheart of the rodeo pin cushion, but really they are all adorable

SheilaC said...

Gorgeous!!

I love this!
http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=38848070

and this!
http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=22420526

SheilaC