Featured Moms – Babyhoot

Jessica and Christina are two sisters who began searching for high quality baby gear. They never did find what they wanted and searching eventually led them to start making their own stuff. Babyhoot was born. After researching everything from fabrics to sizing they began listing their products for sale on Etsy.com in September of 2007.

Like typical sisters, they have conflicting tastes with Jessica leaning towards modern patterns and Christina favoring pinks, polka dots and ruffles.

H: Describe your work.

J: I like creating products that are fun and functional- as a mom of three kids; I only have time for things that are practical! I think every baby should get to have a wonderfully made, sturdy, super soft special blankie- the blankets that moms put in the child’s keepsake boxes as they get older.

H: How did you get started with Etsy?

J: My friend was selling jewellery on Etsy and while checking it out, I was amazed at how many creative people were selling their wares. I told my sister, “I’ve always wanted to do this, and Etsy is a great venue to start!”

H: Are you finding success?

J: Our definition of success changes as our business grows. First, we just wanted people to look at our items, and we’d get excited if our view counts went up. Then, if people “hearted” us. We said we’d be “official” if somebody that we didn’t know actually bought something from us. We’re still pretty new, and we’re starting to dive into the wholesale world. There are so many Etsy sellers with baby products, I know it will take a while to set ourselves apart from the others.

H: Were you creative before you had children?

J: I’ve always been creative, when I was a child I hated coloring books because I wanted to make my own picture, not just color in what somebody else had drawn. For a while after my first child was born, I didn’t really have time to “be creative” and kinda lost the desire to do anything creative. But, baby, it’s back!

H: How have your methods evolved?

J: For sewing methods, I’ve gotten better at fine-tuning techniques and have a system down now. I have always been a night owl, and get my best work done after midnight- be it a thesis paper for school, coming up with ideas for logos, or designing a new babyhoot. product. I don’t sleep much

H: How do you find time to stay creative?

J: I have a wonderful mother in law that watches the kids on days I need to sew. I stopped being so hard on myself for achieving my daily goals- if I set out to sew ten bibs in one setting, but things weren’t flowing for me that day; I just try again the next time instead of finishing my goal, even though it made me crabby and miserable in the meantime.

H: Do your kids show any creative spirit?

J: My six year old son is extremely creative. You should see how his eyes light up when he “finds” something he can use to create something within the recycle box. The kids have an art table that they sit at for at least an hour a day, just making whatever comes to them. We’re planning my daughter’s fourth birthday for April, she just requested a Harry Potter party and wants “a chocolate chip cake with cherry frosting with big taper candlesticks for candles, with Harry Potter glasses attached to each candle”. One Halloween she wanted to be a Handy Dandy Notebook (the Golden one, from Blues Clues) which was a pretty creative request for a two year old!

H: What have your children taught you about your art?

J: If making babyhoot successful means I’m always working and not spending time with the kids, then it’s not worth it. My kids mean the world to me and I’d rather have a happy family than a business raking in a ton of money.

While the girls at babyhoot make great everyday baby items I have to say that it was their superhero capes and costumes that really caught my eye. What kid wouldn’t feel special running around wearing one? Jessica and Christina can be found selling their stuff through Etsy.com at www.babyhoot.etsy.com. They also have an independent website www.babyhoot.com and a blog at http://babyhoot.blogspot.com. Of course you can also get in touch with them through email Jessica@babyhoot.com

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