In the spring of 2023, I started my small business, Ellipsis Designs.  At first, my focus was on jewelry–but in the next two years, I expanded to bookmarks, ribbon wands, and shell trays.  

I first began making jewelry after I took a beginner class at one of my homeschool co-ops, and I continued making earrings after the class ended. A few months later, I took a class at one of my favorite bead stores–in Asheville, NC–and I learned how to wire-wrap beads, a skill that absolutely took the quality of my work to a whole new level. I had my first craft fair in between those classes, and it was quite successful. I continued fine-tuning my jewelry in the time between my next nine craft fairs, and with my tenth craft fair, got to a point where I felt I had great products. Of course, I’m still changing up aspects of my creative process to make not only the final piece much better, but the process more efficient without sacrificing quality. 

Everything at my booth is handmade and designed by yours truly. I especially love making my ribbon wands, because they’re so versatile. You can use them as a cat toy, a dance prop, or just to have fun with! Little kids love them, so parents are definitely my main customers for those. I’m a very outgoing person, so I love interacting with customers during my fairs.  

This past weekend, I sold my designs at my 11th craft fair.  As I was preparing for my fall fairs this year, I decided to add two more crafts to my booth: tiered tea trays and tea cup candles.

Making the tea trays was definitely more challenging!  I used an assortment of thrifted plates in various sizes and colors, and drilled holes through the center of each individual plate with a diamond bit. It was an arduous process, but they turned out absolutely gorgeous. None sold at my most recent craft fair, but it was my first craft fair selling them, so we’ll see what happens there. I didn’t sell a single one of my shell trays at one location, and then at the next craft fair I sold out! 

My second new craft, tea cup candles, sold really well.  All the tea cups I used for these candles are thrifted, and I love how eclectic the mix of styles is.  I used soy wax for easy cleanup, and because it burns with less smoke.  My favorite personal touch: curling the wicks to look like little puffs of steam rising from a hot tea cup.

This weekend’s craft fair was part of a harvest festival in a town about 45 minutes away, and it was definitely different from the kids-only craft fairs I’ve participated in before. 

My goals for the future are to continue to grow my business, perhaps put my designs on Etsy, and to sell at craft fairs that aren’t specifically for younger entrepreneurs.  I’m also excited to work on commissions from interested customers, who find me through my website.