Handmade Feature and Giveaway – Dot Dot Stitch

July 15, 2009 separator giveaway


Dot Dot Stitch is one of the most adorable new shops on Etsy, but Dotty, the uber-creative shopowner, is not new to Etsy at all. She has a fabulous shop {Dottyral} with the cutest pincushions you’ll ever see. I found her newer shop through the Pounce feature on Etsy and thought you guys needed to take a look at it.

Q. What’s the story behind “DotDotStitch”? A. I’ve spent the last three years concentrating on creating pincushions. While I love doing that, I realized that I missed doing hand -stitching. I used to do a lot of rug hooking, penny rug making and embroidery. I started up again with a few embroidered pendants. I sold most of them and sent the rest off on consignment. I was hooked! I decided to open a new shop and fill it with embroidered items. I’m having so much fun!
I wanted the name to relate in some way to my other shop – dottyral (which was a major mistake! When I chose it, I didn’t realize that it would become the name I was known by!) I also wanted to incorporate my name – Dotty, and for it to be general enough to include anything I might want to stitch in the future.

Q. When and how did your interest in sewing/embroidery begin?
A. I’ve always loved to sew and crochet. My grandmother taught me to crochet when I was a little girl. Sewing is just something I’ve always done. My parents bought me my first machine while I was in college. I think of the sewing machine as the work-horse – a necessity in constructing many things. It’s the hand-sewing that I truly enjoy.

Q. Describe yourself in exactly ten words.
A. I’m a mom and wife obsessed with creating and selling.

Q. Dottyral, your other etsy shop, has almost 1,500 sales! What’s your secret? What advice do you have for your fellow newbies?
A. If I had a secret, then this new shop of mine would have started off with a bang! That shop (dottyral) has been open for three years. I was fortunate that I had a unique product. I was the only one on etsy selling emery pincushions, pincushion rings and loose emery for a very long time. I worked hard at coming up with new designs, updating my shop frequently and promoting myself off of etsy.

My advice would be to make what you love. Don’t look at what others are selling. I read all the time on etsy’s forums that there’s nothing new under the sun. I couldn’t disagree with that more. Come up with a unique product and work on perfecting it. Take the best photos possible. Make sure your shop is complete – profile, policies, avatar, banner, good descriptions and tags. Then get to promoting. Spend time every single day working on your shop and promoting yourself.

Q. Favorite food?
A. Italian! If it’s pasta smothered in tomato sauce and gooey cheese – I love it!

Q. What inspires you?
 A. My pincushions were always inspired by what’s practical. I want my pincushions to be even more functional than those found in craft stores. Then I work on making them cute. My embroidered items couldn’t be more different! Now I’m inspired by what’s pretty! I come up with designs that I think are pretty (and sometimes cute) and stitch them up in the form of jewelry, towels and aprons.

Q.Favorite quote?
A. “There’s love in every stitch.” Ha! But really that’s a quote that I can completely relate to, especially if I’m making something for someone I love. Even if I’m making something to later sell, there’s so much of me poured into it.

Q. If you could speak any language fluently, which would it be?
A. Irish Gaelic. The language and the people are so full of character!

Q. What does your typical day look like?
A. Everyday starts the same – coffee and the computer. I have many blogs and sites that need updating. There’s always too much computer work to be done. The day always involves household errands and chores, as well as creating a few things and possibly working on designing something new. My sons are teenagers which leaves me a lot of time to do my own thing. I’m very fortunate that I’m able to work from home!

Q. What are you truly passionate about?
A. Creating. Really. I truly am full of joy while I’m stitching. (Um, should I have mentioned my family first?)

Q. You have a free ten-day trip anywhere in the world. Where are you going?
A. Europe! How many countries can I visit in ten days?

Q. Biggest pet peeve? A. I don’t really let a lot of small things bother me. I guess that just general rudeness would be my biggest pet peeve – like someone chatting on the cell phone while ahead of me checking out at a store. Just generally not being considerate of others around them. I really don’t get worked up about that sort of thing though.

Q. Favorites: A. My buddies’ Etsy shops would be my favorites – schoollocker and KeysandMemories.
Blogs: I regularly read IndieFixx, Feeling Stitchy, Sublime Stitching, and Whip Up.
TV: I love to watch the Food Network – especially the Challenges! I’m also a total Survivor fan.
Movies: I can’t think of a single favorite movie! I live in a house of all guys. It’s very rare that I choose the movie. My choice would be something girly and sappy.
Books: I read every night. I tend to read by author. Right now I’m going through James Patterson‘s books, so I suppose he’s my current favorite.
If I had to choose just one favorite band, it would have to be the Beatles. I never tire of their old stuff.

The Giveaway

Dotty is giving one of you your choice of an embroidered pendant, a towel, or $20.50 to use towards an item of your choice and its shipping fees. Those pendants are just gorgeous and come in many different designs. My readers will also get 20% anything from her shop throughout the giveaway and a week after it ends. Just leave the code ‘shrimp’ in the message to seller box at checkout, and your money will be refunded via PayPal. The giveaway will end at midnight on July 26, and the winner will be announced the following day.

  • To enter, you must visit Dot Dot Stitch and choose a favorite product and/or suggest a new product, design, or color. Leave one comment here with your answer. This step is mandatory before earning additional entries. Feel free to heart the shop as well! Make sure that you leave your e-mail address in at least your first entry.

Additional Entries

  • Become a follower of Shrimp Salad Circus using the ‘subscribe’ options on the left sidebar. Leave one comment telling me you did so.
  • If you’re already a follower, then you’re absolutely fabulous, and thank you! Leave two comments telling me such.
  • Follow Shrimp Salad Circus on Twitter, and tweet about this giveway for one extra entry Make sure you include @ShrimpSalad at the end of your tweet so that I’ll know. Leave one comment with your Twitter address for each follow.
  • Become a fan of Dot Dot Stitch on Facebook. Leave one comment telling me you did so for one extra entry.
  • Put a Shrimp Salad Circus button {Vintage Musings} on your blog sidebar for two extra entries. The button is located on our right sidebar. Leave two comments with a link to your blog after adding the button.
  • Purchase something from Dot Dot Stitch for five extra entries. Leave five separate comments with a link to your transaction page. This is a great deal with that 20 percent discount!!!

Good luck all!
– Lindsay

96 comments

  7. Wrist Cuff – Machine Embroidered – Scrolls and Vines on Linen – so pretty!

  8. I really really like the Wrist Cuff – Machine Embroidered – Scrolls and Vines on Linen.
    Great bracelets!
    jswandrn @ gmail.com

  10. I think there needs to be a pendant with a strawberry on it! I love strawberries, and I looked through everything hoping to see one!

  11. I looked through the hand-embroidered section, and the ribbon embroidered section, and they are all so beautiful! However, my absolute favorite pendant is the Pendant – Hand Embroidered – Blue Dandelion. I wear a lot of blue, so I would have lots of chances to wear it. macd82 at gmail dot com

  18. the pendants are classic elegance. I love the orange embroidered rose and the grey one as well. Beautiful!

  19. I love the chickadees wristcuff over at Dot Dot Stitch. Fabulous homemade products!

  20. I really like the Wrist Cuff – Machine Embroidered – Pair of Chickadees on Linen. Thank you!

  24. I love the wrapped bracelets. So pretty! Thanks for this great opportunity!

  25. This is my 2nd “absolutely fabulous” comment for already being a follower. Thank you! 🙂

    hellcatvintage(at)gmail(dot)com

  34. I LOVE the ‘Wrist Cuff – Hand Embroidered – Kokeshi on Linen!’ And the ‘Wrist Cuff – Machine Embroidered – Pair of Chickadees on Linen’ Great shop!

    I forgot to leave my email with the first one but I didn’t want an extra entry, so: [email protected]

  36. My favorites items are “Pendant – Hand Embroidered – Red Buds on Vines” and “Wrist Cuff – Machine Embroidered – Pair of Chickadees on Linen” (so sweet!)

    meninheira at gmail dot com

  37. My favorite is the Towel – Hand Embroidered Unbleached Cotton Flour Sack – Scottie Dog. It’s really cute.

    rsgrandinetti(at)yahoo(dot)com

  49. I’d love to win the eiffel tower towel for my mom! As for me, I really like the wood grain cuff.
    oheeyore at hotmail dot com

  50. I signed up to follow, how could I not since I am a big “War Eagle” fan. I do pull for “Alabama” when they don’t play Auburn. I look forward to Shrimp Salad Circus. Thanks. [email protected]

  52. I really like: Wrist Cuff – Machine Embroidered – Scrolls and Vines on Linen. Love the sheep, too!

  53. I LOVE THE Wrist Cuff – Machine Embroidered – Pair of Chickadees on Linen — Thanks for the great giveaway:)

  54. I really like the Ribbon Rose Pendants. My favorite right now is the Ivory Rose, but I’d love to see more colors– I think things like blue and purple and green, though not natural would be lovely!

    carapacenator(at)gmail.com

  58. I love the towels, especially the Embroidered Bleached Cotton Flour Sack – Black Sheep and Cassette tape…so quirky! I’d be afraid to dirty these.

  64. I just became a fan of Dotty on Facebook! I have been a fan of her pincushions for a long time; I own one that I use every day!

  65. Well, the chickadee wrist cuff is adorable, but I love hand stitching, so my vote is for the hand embroidered white dandelion pendant.

  69. I guess i must be “absolutely fabulous” because I get to tell you twice that I was already a follower 🙂

  77. Great post and interview!! Everything is so unique…she is so talented!!The cuffs are amazing.
    I love the Ribbon Embroidered Lavender Purple Rose Pendant and the Silvery Gray one too;)
    cyclona66(at)aol(dot)com

  79. Wow, just discovered this Etsy shop. I love it! 🙂
    My favorite is Wrist Cuff, Wood Grain. I’m in to brown-natural white at the moment and this is just fabulous!
    I’d be so happy, if i would win this 🙂
    [email protected]

  80. Very unique shop…I love the Wrist Cuff – Hand Embroidered – Kokeshi on Linen. So cute.

    carethediva[at]hotmail[dot]com

  81. I like the peachy pink ribbon rose pendant! I’d love to see some embroidered pendants in pink! Thanks for entering me into this lovely giveaway.
    unforgetable_dreamer_always(at)hotmail(dot)com

  85. My favorite item is definitely the leaning tower of Pisa unbleached towel!

    I would love to see some embroidered cresting waves, or cattails.

    urchiken at gmail dot com

  88. I like the Wrist Cuff – Hand Embroidered – Faux Bois – Wood Grain. I think the wood grain would look great on a pendant as well

    throuthehaze at gmail dot com

  92. Awesome giveaway…my favorite item is the Hand Embroidered Unbleached Cotton Flour Sack with the Owl on it…way cute!

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