Feature Friday: Brenda Herp - Iris in Bloom

Today's Feature Friday highlights the work of Brenda Herp of Iris in Bloom.


How did you hear about etsy?

Martha Stewart did a segment on etsy one day and I thought that would be a good thing to try. I mentioned it to my friend and she went and set up her etsy site and said it was easy to do. I found out it was so simple to do and I have loved the concept of how you can advertise your craft and meet lots of different people and artists.


Tell us about yourself and your favorite craft/art!

I have always been involved in some kind of crafts whether it be sewing, crocheting, or decorating. I got into machine embroidery about 11 years ago and I have been obsessed since. I love to mix colors and put embroidery designs together on shirts, towels, denim or whatever I can put it on. There is no limit in what you can achieve with embroidery. Everyone has an idea of what they want and it is fun to make the item and see the satisfaction when you give it to them.

I do craft shows and have a lot of customers that spread my name because of what I created for them. This gets me phone calls with special orders, etc. I have sent orders from my etsy site to Oregon, New York, Oklahoma. Positive feedback is great and that makes you feel good about your work.

How did you get started as a designer?

I would not say I am a designer, I just put embroidery designs together
with colors that fit the item I am doing at the time. Maybe I am not sure
of the question of what defines a designer.


What inspires you to create?

I get a idea of what I think a design that I have bought will look
on a item, and away I go. I love creating and working with my hands.
A lot of what I do is one of a kind and I tell my customers "you have
an original!" They like that idea.

How long have you been a member of Bluegrass etsy and how did you hear about the team?

My friend Becky Keith (she is on the Bluegrass etsy team too) told me about it. Actually, her friend Carolyn (Cowgirl Rosie) and her daughter Robin were the brain behind the team. They had the idea and went with it. I have been a member for several months. I started my etsy website, IrisinBloom in March 2008.

Any advice you would give to aspiring designers?

Etsy is a good source to advertise your crafts and a way to tell
everyone about what you do.



To see more of Brenda's work, you can visit her Iris in Bloom etsy shop here.

Thanks Brenda for allowing us to interview you and learn more about your etsy shop. If you are a Bluegrass etsy team member and would like to be featured on an upcoming Feature Friday, contact Kim Ries at kimberven@earthlink.net.

To see more work from this talented Bluegrass etsy team, go to www.etsy.com and type teambluegrass in the search box.