“I don’t remember anybody’s name. How do you think the “dahling” thing got started?”  ˜Zsa Zsa Gabor
It’s always fun to learn the story behind etsy shop names. Starring the EtsyTwitter Team – in alphabetical order, in their own words – read on, Dahlings…
blamejanetics (Janelle)…i do – My dad is an extremely talented mixed media artist/ costume maker from Trinidad city.  My mother is a spontaneous big spirit from the Trinidad suburbs. Together they made me, and I blame genetics for this quirky creature that tweets away on her iPhone affectionately named Appleonia. My mediums are all over and not committed to the ideal; however, sharpie markers make everything great. Genetics + Janelle x Sharpie = janetics ink (Sent from my rocketship, the SS Appleonia)
faerytalewings (Lydia and Curtis) FaerytaleWing’s Art – Lydia has a peculiar interest in the Celtic tribe’s mythology, and “faery” is the Celtic spelling of fairy. She really loves her ancient mythology, hence fairytales. (Curtis: She would have made a great mythology teacher. Alas, liberal arts colleges rarely teach such criteria.) Wings, i.e., wings of imagination, flights of fancy, artist in a nut shell (Curtis again: I should know!). It also looked pretty attached at the end of the aforementioned faerytale.
fibrous (Thea) Fun and felted animals, home decor, and jewelry – Since I was ten, I have dabbled in a lot of crafts, but the only ones that actually resonate with me are ones that are “fibrous.” It started with a rug hooking kit, then crochet and knitting, then needlepoint. I thought I had found “my craft” when I rediscovered knitting years later…but that was only until I started doing wet felting and needle felting, both of which use tools (hot water/needle) to manipulate wool. And with all the wispy bits of wool now lying around my house, my life has truly become fibrous.
HoneyFromTheBee (Janet) Handmade Artisan Jewelry – metal, found object, OOAK – Some may wonder how my business name came about. My maiden name was Bie, pronounced Bee. My first American Bie ancestors opened a general store called the Bie Hive in Forestville, New York in the late 19th century. I have always loved this fanciful use of our surname and wanted a name that honored my heritage as well as reflected my personal offering. Some brainstorming with my brother led to “Honey from the Bee.” Although my ETSY shop is new, I’ve been selling through art shows and my website for more than five years.
LAJewelryDesigns (Lea) Handmade Wearable Glass Art and Unique Jewelry – Looking back, I probably should have selected a different name, but I first started out making jewelry, hence the Jewelry Designs part of my name. I have since branched out and make my own lampwork glass beads, but decided to stay with the name since I already had a nice following. I couldn’t think of anything catchy or cute, so I just went with my initials, LA (Lea A). As a result, you wouldn’t believe how many people think I am actually FROM LA!
Please come back on Thursday for Part Two of “Tell My Your Name Again, Dahling.” There are five more fun shops to get to know!
{ 6 comments… read them below or add one }
Thanks for including me! It was fun to read how others have come up with their names too.
I love reading how artists come up with names for their shops! Thanks so much for including me this week!
Dahling, what a lovely article you wrote, Dahling…
I just think it’s simply wonderful!! :D (imagine all in lovely Zsa Zsa accent!)
I love it. And, it’s a topic that has legs and can be republished with new shops.
Great job.
I love these blog posts…so much fun finding out how people chose their shop names and how the names often mean something totally different from what I think they mean. It’s interesting how choosing a shop name is a very serious, very personal activity! And etsy warns us that it “can’t be changed.”
Thanks for your comments, ladies. It is kind of like naming a child, isn’t it! Stay tuned – Part 2 will be published on Thursday with five more fun shop names.