It is our pleasure to introduce Heather Thorsvik of AdornedHearts as this week's Featured Artist. Heather designs hair chains, headbands, and jewelry from her home in Washington.
Heather has graciously offered to giveaway a three-tiered hair chain, similar to the one shown above. To be entered to win, please comment on this blog post with your favorite item from AdornedHearts.The winner will be announced on next Wednesday's Featured Artist post.
How did you get your start on Etsy?
I had a false start while living in Turkey. While there, I picked up the habit of headcovering, and learned how to sew a square scarf into a pre-tied headscarf. I wanted to fill my shop with Turkish headscarves, but I was too busy with my teaching to grow that business. It gave me a taste of Etsy, though, and I was hooked. When I came back to America I started a new shop, after thinking good and hard about what I wanted to accomplish with it.
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Heather has graciously offered to giveaway a three-tiered hair chain, similar to the one shown above. To be entered to win, please comment on this blog post with your favorite item from AdornedHearts.The winner will be announced on next Wednesday's Featured Artist post.
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| Wide Stretch Lace Headwrap |
How did you get your start on Etsy?
I had a false start while living in Turkey. While there, I picked up the habit of headcovering, and learned how to sew a square scarf into a pre-tied headscarf. I wanted to fill my shop with Turkish headscarves, but I was too busy with my teaching to grow that business. It gave me a taste of Etsy, though, and I was hooked. When I came back to America I started a new shop, after thinking good and hard about what I wanted to accomplish with it.
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Introduction to you:
I
am a 26-year-old Christian wife, hopeful mother, and a para-educator--which
basically means I do whatever a teacher does not have the time to do (such as
tutoring, one-on-one behavior management, stapling vocabulary words to card
stock...anything, really). I do this part-time so that I still have time to
grow my business, as well as take care of my home and work on the logistics of
becoming a mother. My husband and I are currently in the process of becoming
licensed as “foster-to-adopt” parents. We will receive children into our home
who are in need of a long-term or permanent family. We are also about to
undergo embryo adoption; adopting another couple's embryos and carrying them as
if they were my own genetic children.
My main reason for starting my handmade business was to provide a supplemental
income that would first allow us to save the money required for adoption, and
secondly to help my husband support us when we do have children. I plan on
staying at home, and even home-schooling, so I needed a way to work from home.
I have always been creative and entrepreneurial, so having my own handmade
business simply allows me to be who I am and to share my creativity with
others. I try to bless as many people as I can with my handmade items; it is my
love language, really. Besides making custom pieces as gifts, I have been able
to share my products with fund-raising efforts. Through my business I am able
to help a cause or organization, even when I don't have the financial means to
make a big impact. I also use my business to bring awareness to certain causes,
such as foster care and the needs of foster children.
I love what I do, and I love my supporters (customers as well as those who
simply promote my business) for helping me to grow and expand my reach and
impact. It is truly nourishing to my soul, and my aim is to nourish others at
the same time. My business name is Adorned Hearts because I never want to
forget to focus on my spiritual adornment while reaching others and ministering
to their hearts as well.
1 Peter 3:3-4 (ESV) says, “Do not let your adorning be external—the braiding of
hair and the putting on of gold jewelry, or the clothing you wear— but let your
adorning be the hidden person of the heart with the imperishable beauty of a
gentle and quiet spirit, which in God's sight is very precious”. A new pair of
earrings can put a little spring in your step, which energizes you to go out
and be who you are meant to be. But at the same time, we women can lose focus
on the internal when we hone in on enriching our physical beauty. We must
strive to be balanced, and adorn our hearts as well as our bodies. This is the
challenge I accept, and I hope to help other women with it as well. Eventually,
I hope to start an Adorned Hearts blog to gather women together so that we can
support each other in this and in so many other challenges we face. I
appreciate you taking the time to read this, and hear what's on my heart. May
God bless and enrich you!
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What
does a typical day look like for you?
I work a few days a week, sometimes half days but usually full school days. I
come home with enough time to make dinner, and I work on my business most
evenings while my husband grades papers. On days I do not work at the school, I
get to work on many aspects of my business in one day. Everything from
designing prototypes to marketing to talking with my supporters about new
products or design adjustments.
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If
you could be anywhere in the world for one day, where would it be?
Right now, I am very homesick for Turkey. If I could go anywhere right now, it
would be Istanbul but I would not be able to stay for just one day. So I might
have to choose Budapest instead. :-)
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What
is your favorite Bible verse?
Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding;in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight. | Proverbs 3:5,6 (NIV)
Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding;in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight. | Proverbs 3:5,6 (NIV)
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What
is your favorite Etsy item listing to feature?
My hair chains are one of my favorite items. They are delicate, elegant, and versatile. I designed them to clip into my flower clips, felt bow clips or to be styled on their own. I appreciate the simplicity of being able to put together many looks with only a few pieces, whether it is with accessories or clothing, and that is where the design for these hair chains came from.
My hair chains are one of my favorite items. They are delicate, elegant, and versatile. I designed them to clip into my flower clips, felt bow clips or to be styled on their own. I appreciate the simplicity of being able to put together many looks with only a few pieces, whether it is with accessories or clothing, and that is where the design for these hair chains came from.
Where else can we find you on the Internet?
www.Facebook.com/AdornedHearts
www.Facebook.com/AdornedHearts
10:46 AM |
Category:
Adorned Hearts,
AdornedHearts,
Heather Thorsvik,
Wednesday,
Wednesday Featured Artist
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4
comments
Comments (4)
I enjoyed learning about you and your shop. Thanks for sharing with us.
Thank you for sharing your goals and aspirations with us. I pray the Lord will bring them all to fruition.
I loved learning about your shop. The hair chains are really lovely.
It was great to read about you, Heather. So interesting. Lovely items.