Member Spotlight: AandARandomlings

Meet Ashleigh of A&A Randomlings!

Ashleigh's shop has a variety of handmade goods, including wire wrap jewelry, paper crafts, Kawaii/Lolita items, Neopagan items, and Girl Gamer items, or as she likes to put it "your basic geekery stuff, plus some art, jewelry, and cards". ;)

1. What school do you attend?

Social Work is the major I’ll be signing before the spring semester is over, and I’ll be signing a minor in Psychology.I’m a sophomore student at Central Michigan University, home of the Chippewas, which is basically smack-dab in the middle of Michigan. We’re right down the street from a large casino and half of the town is on reservation land. Our school has a basically good relationship with the Saginaw Chippewa Indian Tribe, but that wasn’t always the case. Once upon a time, our mascot was a Chippewa chief in full regalia, and our football games were filled with whooping “battle cries” similar to the ones you see in old Westerns. Eventually the university realized how disrespectful this behavior was and got its act together; we changed our mascot to the Flying C and the tribe allowed us to continue calling ourselves the Chippewas.

2. What are you currently studying?

Social Work is the major I’ll be studying before the spring semester is over, and I’ll be studying a minor in Psychology.

3. What types of classes do you get to take? Which one is your favorite, and why?

For the most part, I’m taking Sociology, Psychology, and Social Work classes. However, I’m also taking lots of English classes. At first, the English classes were just to fulfill my basic requirements; however, now I’m taking a Folklore class just for fun and am absolutely loving it. There may be an English minor in my future.

4. What do you want to do when you get out of school?

The current plan is to stay in school until I have my masters, which should take about an additional year, and then to get my Social Work license. The reason I'm going into Social Work, is because in my heart of hearts, I love humanity. While there are people in this world who do terrible, terrible things, it is my hope that there are enough good humans out there to counterbalance this craziness. As a social worker, I hope that I can make a difference in the lives of sexually exploited children and abused/neglected children by advocating for them. These kids don't have a large political voice (especially victims of the child prostitution industry) and their cause is extremely underfunded. :(

5. What are some of your interests and hobbies?

Other than crafting, I love to read and spend time with friends. Also, I love to be out in nature. Once the weather warms up again (did you know that the winter lasts almost seven months in Michigan?) I’m going to be taking lots of long walks in the woods :D

6. What is your favorite thing about college so far?

The coffee shops! In my home town, you have a few corporate choices for coffee; Starbucks, Tim Horton’s, and various fast food places. But here, you have an independently owned coffee shop every couple of blocks! My favorite local place is called Kaya Coffee & Tea. I go there every Thursday night at about 10 with my friends from the Open Grove Society, which is the religious diversity club I’m a part of. We sit and chat and drink delicious beverages and nibble on various munchies. It’s a great way to relax before the weekend.

7. How do you manage your school work and Etsy shop?

Very carefully! I try to make sure school comes first, but I reserve at least an hour a day for Etsy related stuff. While the internet side of things can be easily managed, I find it hard to craft in my current dorm setting. Sometimes I’ll take whatever I’m working on with me to Kaya or the library, where I have more space to spread out.

8. What is the best advice you can offer to a fellow college student crafter?

Crafting in a small space can be difficult; it seems to squelch all of the creativity right out of you! It’s workable though; especially if you have the support of your roommates; if they know you’re working hard on something, generally they can give you feedback and try to live around your project. That’s really the best advice I have; crafting can be messy and mess can be stressful, but keeping relationships healthy with your roommates really helps with the whole process. After all, crafting is supposed to be relaxing!

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Member Spotlight: Movetheneedle

Meet Anna of Move the Needle!

Anna specializes in handmade paper goods, including journals, planners, and greeting cards. She also makes photo frames and boxes.

1. What school do you attend?

I go to Allegheny College in western Pennsylvania.

2. What are you currently studying?
I am a Studio Art major and have a double minor in Creative Writing and VESA which stands for Values, Ethics and Social Action (it's basically about volunteering and how to make a difference in the world). Our school requires our major and minor to be in different fields of study so that's why I have 2 minors.

3. What types of classes do you get to take? Which one is your favorite, and why?

I usually take art classes, like Photography or Painting, which I love. Right now I'm taking a Junior Seminar course where I'm doing a big painting project in. I also take some classes in other fields like English and Psychology. I've really enjoyed my writing classes in poetry and short stories. I also usually take one Dance and Movement class every semester just for fun. Right now I'm taking Figure Skating and I've taken Ballroom Dancing in the past.

4. What do you want to do when you get out of school?

I'm not sure what I want to do when I get out of school yet. I want to do something art related, so I'll probably be looking for a job in that area. I want to continue crafting and running my Etsy. I also think it might be nice to travel right when I get out of school.

5. What are some of your interests and hobbies?

Besides crafting, I enjoy listening to music, painting, watching movies, reading, photography, writing and cooking.

6. What is your favorite thing about college so far?

I love that you can take classes for stuff you're interested in. For example, in high school, I would have to take science classes I didn't like as requirement. In college, I'm only required to take one science/lab course and it can be in something that interests me such as astronomy or light and color. I've also been able to explore interests I didn't know I had, like ballroom dancing.

7. How do you manage your school work and Etsy shop?

I think I just try to manage my time well. To me, my Etsy feels like another activity I do. Etsy is a lot of fun so it doesn't feel like work to me and is a nice break from my schoolwork. I'll usually go in stages where I work on my Etsy shop a lot and then I might have a lot of schoolwork, so I don't craft as much until I have more time. I try to go on Etsy a little bit each day though.

8. What is the best advice you can offer to a fellow college student crafter?

I'd say, don't be afraid to open a shop just because you're a student. I saw somebody else say this, but I think it's a good idea to open your shop while you're on break from school. That way you have time to stock up and create your shop without distractions. Also, if you find you don't have a lot of time, just do one little thing on Etsy each day – like listing or writing a blog entry.

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Member Spotlight: Thekniftiestknitter

Meet Katie of The Kniftiest Knitter!

Katie's shop is filled with super cute knitted scarves, berets, and other accessories.

1. What school do you attend?

I attend Georgia State University in downtown Atlanta

2. What are you currently studying?
I'm a psychology major, and am hoping to specialize mostly in drug and alcohol rehab therapy.

3. What types of classes do you get to take? Which one is your favorite, and why?

I take mostly psychology classes at this point, and those are most definitely my favorite. This semester my abnormal psychology class has been really great!

4. What do you want to do when you get out of school?

Hopefully a therapist in a rehabilitation center.

5. What are some of your interests and hobbies?

I play several instruments, and am in the band at college. I spend a lot of my free time crocheting and knitting.

6. What is your favorite thing about college so far?

I've loved being able to have classes with students with open minds and the discussions that come about in some of my more controversial classes.

7. How do you manage your school work and Etsy shop?

It's definitely hard to stay up to date on my Etsy shop, but I find the time on weekends and some weeknights I don't have a lot going on.

8. What is the best advice you can offer to a fellow college student crafter?

School first, crafts second.

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