Market Shoppe: Nana's Woolen Cottage
Owner(s): Cheryl McKinzey
Web site address: www.nanaswoolencottage.com
Blog: http://tcmckinzey.bravejournal.com/

What inspired you to open your own crafting business?

Enjoying the peaceful life that comes from living on a family farm and wanting to share it, along with our love for rug hooking and simple living, with others.

What sort of items do you sell?

Nana's Woolen Cottage sells only original patterns made my myself or my partner( Angela Anderson of Pioneer Primitives) and I. The Peaceful Living series is done by the both of us. The rest are made by me.

Do you have a favorite item that you make or sell? What is it, and why is it your favorite?

Always my favorite are the Peaceful Living Series. Their conception came from looking out my back window at our farm. I love our family farm and it just delights me to see all the shenegans going on in the pasture. The rest are just made up as I go.

Do you offer a special or unique service or discount?

Yes, If you sign up for my mailing list and confirm your subscription to my newsletter you will always have a couple of nice coupons to use. They can only get the coupon code if they get the newsletter. I also am starting a virtual Hook-In on May 3. Sign ups have already started and will go through May 15th. All that info is in my newsletter, store, and blog with big discounts for the hook-in. But you have to be a member of the mailing list to join. It is free and there is no cost invoved if you want to join. I also do custom work on my patterns. I also love to do custom hooking for people who don't hook but want a hooked item. The price is based on many factors like size, is it a kit, do I have to use my wool and so on.

When you are not crafting what do you enjoy doing?

Playing computer games. LOL I have to be able to keep up with my 11 grandkids when they want a challenge.

If you could recommend one book and one movie to our visitors, what would they be?

Ah that is easy, the book I would recommend is the rug hooking Bible, then any kind of rug hooking book. I prefer Gene Shepherd's rug Hooking Bible. Everything you would ever want to know about hooking is in that book along with some of his patterns. The I would choose the Rug Hooking magazine. That is one of the best I have found so far for free patterns and instructions.

What is your greatest creative challenge?

I have an illness that doesn't allow me to use my hands to much so I have to use drawing programs to make my designs. I just can't get my ideas out there as fast as I want to because of my limitations. I also don't have any feelings in my hands so I have to be really careful when I am dyeing wool. I have been known to stick my hand in the dye pot to pull on my wool and then I get burned.

What is the greatest reward of being a crafter and owning your own business?

I love to make people happy and watch them enjoy my patterns. I enjoy my customers so much they become like family to me. If they have any problems at all I am there to help them in anyway I can. I had one this morning that wanted custom work done on the pattern she bought from me, and I had fun changing my pattern to suit my customers need. Having your own business is a little stressful but I don't like even saying that because I get so excited when a customer comes to my store.

What makes you happy?

My family, grandkids, and my pets. Living on a working farm is also up there. Most of my designs come from the farm in someway. Then designing my patterns and seeing people enjoy them. I am looking for a wool partner who can put wool up on my site for the patterns. Just haven't found the right one.

What advice would you give to a folk artist or crafter thinking about going into business for themselves?

Get with someone in your type of business and have them mentor you. There are so many ins and outs that your business will depend on you having correct answer. Check out all the other stores and see how they are doing and what they are selling. Go small at first then add, and add and add items that are unique to your store. There are so many ways to open your first store for free or very little cost. So check into those first then also make sure you can upgrade to a larger store without out any complications. Then advertise with the right people. Your first store will be slow but you will build up your clientel as time goes buy. Always, no matter what, put your customer first. Remember, if you don't have customers your not going to survive. Always put them first.

SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT FOR RUG HOOKERS!

Nana's Woolen Cottage is starting a monthly virtual hook-in! Participants can use any pattern they want, but if you use one from Nana's WoolenCottage, you get 25% off. To learn more about the next upcoming virtual hook-in and how to participate, please visit Cheryl McKinzey's web journal at: tcmckinzey.bravejournal.com