Several years ago I was asked for this interview. Some people continue to ask me some of those questions, for that reason I wanted to create this post and here I share the answers.
A little about myself. I’m from the Dominican Republic, I lived in Pennsylvania for 5 years, but we moved back to Indiana for a new job opportunity for my husband. He is a wonderful man of God, we have 2 boys and a girl. I love my family and I enjoy share the story of my life with them.\
¿Tienes alguna especialidad? Well, I studied Graphic Design, but also over the years I have kept quite busy, I did one or other courses on the things I like (Photography, Wedding and Event Planner, Drawing and Painting, Jewelry Design, Jewelry Design interiors) But I also take advantage of the tutorials. That’s why I love DIYs.
How did you get your start on Etsy? In 2011, while talking with my English teacher about my skills, she mentioned Etsy as an option where I could sell what I was doing. I had not known that place of online market, but that same night I started to research and opened an account without knowing how it worked and I started to place products .
The first 5 months my store was totally dead, did not make a single sale, and had very few visits. Finally my first sale took place in March 2012 and the next in August of that year, it was rather slow, I received much support from my husband, but there were times I was about to throw in the towel, after much prayer, one day I wrote a prayer to God, I decided to make a modern design and I placed it in front of my desk. Then, I said to myself, why do not I put it in my store, and I did that. Through that design I received my first conversation in Etsy. The client asked me if I could do a similar design but with 1st Corinthians 13, and obviously I said YES. And so began my journey with the biblical wall art on Etsy.
All this led me to seek more information on the operation of Etsy, it’s amazing how the online world, little by little started selling works, and now, thank God, I can see the results. I have focused on the design of inspirational quotes and Bible verses, some wedding decorations, printed on burlap signs and sometimes placed accessories. I love my job and I love that people feel satisfied and happy with what I do. Each comment inspires me and encourages me to follow.
Why @byive name? My husband and I started to brainstorm, He and I have always thought big projects and all you’ve given a name, but for this, if you actually did, it was very difficult to put a name, until finally we found that the more simple was better. My husband told me who you’re going to handle everything from design, photography, write, publicize, customer service, sell it, pack it and ship it off to its final destination. So why do not we call ByIve? I loved and so it was!.
What does a typical day look like for me? I am night person, and my moment of creativity begins with the silence of the night; But since the normal cycle is when you wake up, since I love the smell and taste of coffee, the first thing I do when I wake up is make coffee while reading my devotional, I play music almost the whole day, I’m faced with singing while I work, I read my emails and conversations from my store, and I check the pending things of my agenda. To be honest, many times I can not handle everything, so I evaluate what has priority and I start with that. I prepare and pack the sales and send them to their destination. I deposit the packages in the mailbox or I go to the post office. Later I prepare dinner for my family and in the evening after the children are in bed (although this does not happen every day) I try to watch some romantic movie and a happy ending, with my husband.
If I could be anywhere in the world for one day, where would it be? I would love to visit Paris, Italy, Australia, Mexico and others, but in this moment if I get to choose, I love to be in one of the beautiful piping hot beaches, that having my country (either in Las Terrenas, Bávaro or Punta Cana).
What is my favorite Bible verse? I have many verses that become part of my day and the situation that I am living, but the ones I relate most to what I am would be:
But the Lord said to Samuel, “Don’t judge by his appearance or height, for I have rejected him. The Lord doesn’t see things the way you see them. People judge by outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.” 1 Samuel 16:7 (NLT)
Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you your heart’s desires. Psalm 37:4 (NLT)
And the one I identify most with what I do is:
In view of all this, make every effort to respond to God’s promises. Supplement your faith with a generous provision of moral excellence, and moral excellence with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with patient endurance, and patient endurance with godliness, and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love for everyone. The more you grow like this, the more productive and useful you will be in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 2 Peter 1:5-8 (NLT)