A shot in the arm

Here is your chance to make a difference to my creative work on Etsy. Please vote for me in Etsy Small Business contest. It is literally whoever gets the most votes wins, so if all my beloved fans would simply take a minute and vote for me, I just may have a shot at winning $10,000! The contest ends April 7th, so there is no time like the present to click on this link and vote:

https://etsy.wishpond.com/small-business-contest/entries/150607203

You don’t have to be from the US or a subscriber or a customer. You can vote and your vote is important.

Here is my response to the questions about my business:

Briefly tell us about your business and what makes it different:

I have always loved antiques and old houses and that sensation you can get of stepping out of time. This has been my inspiration and focus for creating my primitive hooked rug patterns. There are many details that make my patterns different. When I design a rug I draw from my knowledge of vintage textiles, their homey simplicity and the lovely faded patina in their colors. My personal color sense and hooking style has developed from studying vintage things. That has become my look. I believe that color is so important, that before I market a design I hook it to demonstrate my full vision for what it could be. I then beautifully package the pattern, with full color photos of my rug and hints for color planning. My customers can take the design and run with it in their own direction, inspired by something they see beauty in. I have been in business for over 17 years, and in that time have created over 100 hooked rug patterns, self published dye books and a DVD. My latest focus has been instant downloadable patterns and all the possibilities for creativity-in-the-moment that they bring.

How would you use the Etsy Small Business Contest money to scale your business in a big way this year?

Possibilities would be a better ventilation system for my dye kitchen, adding more varieties of wool to my shelves to sell, and taking some educational classes that inspire me. The mere fact of having money in my business account will mean that I will have more time to be creative and less time with my nose to the grindstone!

Describe a truly special moment you’ve had with a customer.

Hearing back from my customers, about their experience with my patterns is a treasure to me. Here are a few:

“Chicken In The Garden” rug hooked by Maureen Lowrey

“Speaking of joy in one’s life, looking at your goods, whatever they are, brings me joy. I don’t hook just the way you do, but I am using many colors for my backgrounds which makes my matts look more interesting. Thank you.” -Polly P

 “You are an inspiration whose work speaks to my soul.” -Anne K

“Ordered immediately! Every other project has screeched to a halt”-Catherine V

I think that anything worth doing is worth doing with your whole heart, so I am putting my best effort forth to be the winner. I would be so honored to win and just dream of the ways that I could use this money to further my creative life. If you do vote for me, I say thank you!

Be creative ~ Karen

If you would like to see what you are voting for, check out my Etsy shop and see what’s new.

CLICK HERE TO GO TO MY ETSY SHOP