Ultimate Blog Party 2011

Hello to everyone visiting from the Ultimate Blog Party! Please make sure to leave me a comment with your blog url. I would love to visit everyone in return =D

 

First, I guess I better introduce myself. My name is Amanda, AKA Mandy Mouse. (I earned that nickname when I dressed up as a mouse for Halloween when I was a toddler). I am the woman behind Mandy Mouse Creates and Mandy Mouse Designs. I'm currently 22 years old, married to my High School Sweetheart for over 3 years, and pregnant with our first child.

I have always been sorta crafty. When I was 10 or 11 years old I began sewing with my Mom. She taught me how to make my first pair of pajama pants. She sewed everything from our swim suits to our prom dresses. When I was a newlywed, my husband worked nights. I was very lonely, and decided to start sewing again to help pass the time.

I'm the kind of person that likes change. I can't stand it when things are always the same. I was looking for a new wallet one day, and I couldn't find anything that I liked. Everything was so bland and boring. I wanted some fun colors and prints! So I searched around online, and found a pattern for a wallet. I whipped one together and quickly fell in love. But after a few weeks, I noticed several small things that I didn't like. 3 prototypes later, I have my own wallet! I posted a few pictures on Facebook, and started receiving requests like crazy. Everyone wanted one. After selling a few dozen through Facebook, I decided to open my first Etsy store. Things didn't take off as quickly as I had hoped, so I took a break for a while. Several months later, I decided to start my own blog to help promote my Etsy store. A couple months later, and 2 blog features later, things are going great!

Like I said, I mainly started this blog for my wallets. But I have quickly started spreading out a little bit. I now also sell camera straps, and I have designs for a checkbook cover, mini wallet, and cosmetic bag all in the works! I also do some other crafts as well. You'll see me post about those occasionally. Mainly small things for the home, like shadowboxes, a heating pad cover, etc.

An example of several wallets that I have sold.

I'm still fairly new to the blogging world, but I am so excited to meet new people! Especially anyone with a crafty blog. I love trying new things and searching around for inspiration. Please let yourself be known!