Friday, May 14, 2010

Member Interview


Who are you?  Katie of BlackStar.

Please tell us a bit about yourself. 

My name is Katie and I'm a landlocked, transplanted Yankee that lives in middle Tennessee. I've been self employed most of my adult life, from landscaping to working with my husband on his construction crew. We specialize in historic restoration.

I have 3 shops on Etsy ~ BlackStar (jewelry), BlackStarBeads (deStash) and BlackStarVintage (empty but someday will be my vintage shop). My shop is named after the BlackStar Line, a steamship company started by Marcus Garvey, who was born in Jamaica and immigrated to Harlem in 1916. My husband also has a construction company. Yep, BlackStar Construction. We spent a lot of time in Jamaica; a place I hold dear to my heart.

How did you learn about Etsy Project Embrace?

A friend of mine told me about Etsy Project Embrace. I was looking for a street team or two to join. I checked out the blog and the thread on the Etsy forums and liked what I read. My mom lost her battle with cancer, 10 years ago this past March. I joined the team the week of that anniversary.

What is your favorite item in your shop at the moment?

My favorite item in my jewelry shop right now is this necklace:


I love old trade beads and fossils. I rarely list jewelry with either one of those in my shop because I keep them all for myself.

What is your favorite possession, and why do you cherish it?

My favorite possession is my mom's recipe box. The recipes are written by hand. It's amazing how many emotions and memories are held in those handwritten cards.

What do you collect?

I collect so many different things. Right off the top of my head: rusty bits, shells, fossils, rocks, feathers, driftwood, vintage beads, old mason jars, heirloom seeds, crocks, old tools, glass insulators. The list goes on.....

Where would you like to be and what do you hope to be doing ten years from now?

Ten years from now, I'll have my nail apron on because we'll be building yet another house. This one will be up on Monteagle Mountain. It's where we're planning to live when we retire. I think I'll be a full time gardener, in between trips to any and all beaches.

12 comments:

  1. I'm sorry about your mother. I can understand why her recipe box is so dear to you with her handwritten cards. That necklace is gorgeous and I love the sound of your collections. I've really enjoyed reading more about you Katie! Thank you for sharing!!

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  2. i love my mom's handwritten notes and recipes, that i have saved. I carry a little note she wrote on in my wallet and look at it from time to time! Really nice to "meet" you here- you have a very interesting life!! WOW, good for you. Great interview miss mollie ann!

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  3. How nice to get to know you better and the reason behind your shop name. My mom use to write notes on the pages of her cookbooks and I really cherish those books. I do the same thing when I use a recipe.

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  4. What a wonderful interview, Katie and Mollie! So neat to learn more about your life and work interests, Katie!

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  5. Wonderful and so interesting. Loved reading where your shop name(s) came from and the bit about the recipe box. I also love that necklace... it's fabulous! And I have glass insulators around my flower garden!

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  6. Great interview, Mollie!! Love getting to know Katie better as I, too, am a Yankee transplanted from the shore to middle Tennessee. Perhaps we're neighbors... :)

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  7. it's great to find out more about teamepe, great to meet you better, Katie!

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  8. Nice to meet you and read your wonderful article. Your work is beautiful and I love that necklace as well. Rose

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  9. So nice to "meet you" Katie!! Fabulous interview and I too love my Mom's old recipe cards, they hold a treasured place in my kitchen and my heart, Thank you for sharing! Looking forward to next week Mollie!
    xoxo
    :) Kristin

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  10. i love these interviews! it's so fun to come to 'know' each of you a little better~

    katie- i know that green thumb of yours is an amazing talent! we share lots of interests, including the garden and the BEACH! all the best with your retirement home and garden, when the time comes!

    hugs to you mollie!
    xo

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  11. So nice to get to know you better, Katie! I, too, am a Yankee transplanted to waaaaay up in upstate NY! Ahhhh, the beach! I miss that too! Love reading your interview! Thank you Mollie! Love, Cait

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  12. Wonderful interview! I cherish my Mom's recipe box, too!

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