Feature Friday: Wandering Whimsies

Today we feature Belinda Johnson of Wandering Whimsies, a talented member of our Bluegrass Etsy Team!


How did you first hear about etsy?

The first time I heard about etsy was several years ago while I was sitting in the school parking lot waiting to pick up my son. I always carry a project to work on, no matter where I'm at, and the lady parked next to me was sewing also. We started talking about crafts and the local shows coming up. I told her about my website and she told me about etsy and her shop.


Tell us about a little about yourself and your favorite craft/art!

I'm located in Radcliff, KY, just outside of Ft. Knox. We are retired Navy and when the US Army offered my husband a job here, we packed up and relocated one last time. I'm now a stay at home Mom with two teenagers (one a freshman and one is a senior) and work full time on my crafts. I have my etsy shop, a .com website, wholesale to specialty giftshops around the country and do several craft shows a year.

My favorite craft is sewing! I love primitive country decor and enjoy designing and creating my stitcheries, little "critters" (such as my sheep) and seasonal items, like pumpkins and snowmen.

How did you get started as a designer?

I was taught to embroider and sew at a young age by my mom, aunt and grandmothers and it's always been something I've done. As an adult, I spent my spare time working on projects and doing craft shows wherever we were stationed.

What inspires you to create?

Anything can be an inspiration! Things I see, something that someone says, a piece of fabric, etc. It stays in the back of my mind until an idea just "clicks". My best ideas seem to happen right before I fall asleep or in the middle of the night! My husband isn't concerned anymore when I get up to write down an idea or sketch a rough pattern.


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

I joined the Bluegrass team near the beginning of this year. I kept reading in the forums about being part of a team. So I checked all the teams listed (and there are quite a few) that sounded interesting and I may have common interests with.


Any advice you would give to aspiring designers?

To keep working at what you like to do, don't be afraid to try something new and challenging; and above all, never give up! Keep going even though you may want to quit - success, personal and otherwise, doesn't happen overnight.

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Thanks Belinda for the interview. It was great learning more about you and we are happy that you selected Bluegrass etsy when you were looking for a team!

To see more of Belinda's art and craft, please visit her Wandering Whimsies etsy shop!