Melanie Lambert – Three years ago, I fell in love. Deeply, madly, passionately in love. With Pinterest. It had everything I ever wanted: crafts and handmade goodies galore, all complete with instructions, tutorials, videos, and fun ways to personalize even the smallest detail in your home. But, crafting was not something new to me when Pinterest arrived on the social media scene. For years, I’d been dragging all of my friends and family to local festivals, checking out the booths of handmade items and deconstructing them in my head. “Don’t buy that,” I’d tell them as they were eyeing some typical festival wares hanging enticingly from a tent. “I can make it for you.” But, when Pinterest hit the Internet, I discovered that I now had every festival at my fingertips twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week. It was glorious. And addictive.
While planning my wedding, I spent every moment of my free time scouring pin after pin for the perfect reception décor ideas and committed to making as many pieces as I could to keep our budget under control. When our guests asked where I’d purchased the custom chalkboards, personalized favors, and rustic centerpieces, I was never more flattered in my life. Having something that I made on our kitchen table confused with something store-bought made me think that I might have a talent.
As my crafting hobby turned into a full force obsession, my husband became slightly concerned that we were running out of room for any more of my home décor projects. Every surface had subtle nods to things I’d pinned and every door was decorated with some gorgeous, puffy, burlap wreath. As I posted pictures of my lovelies on Facebook, friends and even strangers wanted to know how much I’d charge to make their own version. My savvy husband knew an opportunity when he saw one. “You should sell these…,” he suggested recently. And Tupelo Trail was born.
Tupelo Trail is one of Etsy.com’s newest online stores and features rustic and shabby chic home décor and other fun accessories that no one really needs but everybody really wants. I like to think my style is a cross between rustic farmhouse and shabby chic. Lots of burlap, distressed wood, chalkboard, frayed edges, muted tones, and lace. And chevron, because, come on… who doesn’t love chevron? Once completely stocked, my store will carry customizable picture frames, painted Mason jars, coasters, wreaths, and any other project that catches my fancy that I think someone else might appreciate.
Etsy is the perfect outlet for my projects. The website features aspiring or accomplished small business owners who sell mostly handmade art. Visitors have a clear understanding that most shops will customize just about anything they sell, which makes them different from your standard retail experience. And the purpose of my work is to provide that last, little décor touch that matches my shopper’s style perfectly.
Obviously, crafting is a passion of mine. Other people drink to relieve stress; I craft. (And drink the occasional glass of wine, who am I trying to kid?!) Putting things together and making something beautiful allows me to completely zone out from the real world and focus on details that I can choose and control. And the glory of making something by hand is, if I mess up, it simply becomes “one-of-a-kind.” Selling some pieces and making some money would be great. But, making a living doing this is not the goal. The goal is do something that makes me happy, both in the process and the finished product, and share a little bit of that happiness with the world.
Melanie Lambert is the Founder and Owner of Tupelo Trail, one of Etsy.com’s newest handmade craft shops. She lives just outside of Atlanta with her amazing husband and is excited to share her Southern inspiration with the world.
