Interview with Enid of PreN'Das by Enid and Prenda

Here is an interview with Enid of PreN'Das by Enid and Prenda - two lovely Etsy shops. Below, Enid tells us about her joy for sewing, jewelry, and hair accessories.

Tell me a little bit about yourself and your Etsy shop.

Hi! My name is Enid. I am from Puerto Rico and a mother of three gorgeous girls. I am passionate about crafts and recycling and all things that involve the handmade world. I have two shops in Etsy. The first one, PreN'Das by Enid, has jewelry and hair accessories, and the second one, Prenda, is brand new and about my sewing world.

What inspires you to create?

My inspiration is born inside me. It's like breathing. I just have to make something everyday, and when I m done, I feel so satisfied. It is just great!

Describe your creative process.

I have so many things to do and so little time, so I have to be very organized. I always have this little "to do list" just to know where I am and the next step to take but don't usually follow it has I should. I think creation is not something that you can schedule. It just happens, but I always try to start with a cup of coffee!

What are some of your own favorite creations?

I'm in love with my flowers. I started them making booby pins, then tried other hair pins, headbands, and brooches. Now, I'm improving them and incorporating them into my jewelry pieces. They look fantastic. I have new fabrics and awesome new ideas. Do you know that you can do them, too? Yes, I make this DIY flower kit. It is great! Once you learn, you can start your own business!

How do you want your craft and business to evolve?

I want to make this Etsy shop a part time job. I know I can, and I'm focusing on that.

What or who influences you as an artisan?

When I was in fifth grade, I discovered art. I had this lovely art teacher who introduced me to the art world and actually took me to art contests and exhibitions. Then, I went to fine art school after school and did art as a hobby, but art wasn't my first career choice. I basically rediscovered my talent after my first daughter was born. I just know what I want. I want to be with my family and be has creative as I can. My daughters are my real inspiration!

What brings people to seek out your creations and what makes your work unique?

My clients are special. I sit with them to talk, and they tell me what they want. Then, I create it with my special touch. It is a great way to create unique things. But when I'm not working with orders, I just sit and start creating. Sometimes my creations are simple and classic things, and sometimes I just go with the season.

What choices have you made that helped your business the most?

I organize everything in my world. I also have chosen to close the shop for a while (a long time ago) and work hard on my little craft space until I knew everything had their place and and knew where everything was! I use to have a mess! In the Etsy world, I get to work with a team. There are fabulous people out there that really want to work and love teamwork. It is very special, and you make a lot of friends from all around the world!

What advice would you give to other artisans?

Don't give up! Never! If the online business doesn't work for you, do it where you live. Handmade creations are really valuable to a lot of people, and you should do what you really want to do!

Where can your creations be found (on the web or in shops)?

My creations can be found in my Etsy shops (http://www.etsy.com/shop/ prendasbyenid and http://www.etsy.com/shop/ prenda), and sometimes I do little local craft shows that I announce in my blog (http://prendasbyenid. blogspot.com/).

You can read more of my articles on Etsy artisans and shops here and see some of my own jewelry creations in my Etsy shop, ideology, here.