Meet Twinkie Chan!

Name: Twinkie Chan!
Birthdate: August 7, '76
Location: San Francisco, CA
Shop Name: twinkiechan

When and why did you first join Etsy?

It appears I joined in 2006 (hehe I can't remember myself!). I remember a lot of the other crafters I knew were leaving eBay and joining Etsy, so I was curious! I didn't necessarily feel like I was being treated badly as a seller on eBay, as many people did feel, but there was something very clean and streamlined and delightful about Etsy.

Did you open your shop right away?

I mostly just shopped on Etsy to begin with, and did not start selling on it until 2008. It was hard for me to leave eBay and have to name my own prices for my items, but I loved the idea that it wouldn't necessarily just be the highest bidders who could purchase my goodies.

Why are you a member of EtsyTeaParty?

Cuz the coolest sellers in the universe were part of it, and I wanted to pretend to be as cool as them! I love the beautiful, uber-girlie aesthetic that most of us seem to incorporate into our work!

Easy one, what is your favorite color(s)?

I don't want to say pink, but it's the truth.

How did you choose your shop's name?

My shop is my name! Okay, it's obviously not my real name, but I chose my superhero craft name by adopting my mother's maiden name, Chan, and a word that is obviously a food, but "Twinkie" is also a term for an Americanized Asian person, yellow on the outside, white on the inside! I just thought it was a funny twist, as I feel I am quite Americanized in many ways, but my work would seem very inspired by trends and imagery in Asia/Japan.

What is your favorite item that you have listed in your shop and why (add URL)?

I have  huuuuuge soft spot for the pepperoni pizza scarf! I always swear I will make myself one day, but I never do  cuz I have so much other stuff to make!

Do you have any other hobbies besides crafting/creating gorgeoushandmade things for Etsy?

Oh man, right now I don't have time for anything else. I used to work in publishing, so I used to read A LOT. I thought that I would read more after leaving the industry, but that hasn't happened yet! Does playing with my dogs count as a hobby? My boyfriend and I also love to watch bad horror movies!

Do you have any pets?

Yes! I have too adorable dogs, Bibi (Shar Pei/Basset mix), and Bunny (Min Pin/demon mix).

What is your most cherished possession and why?

At the moment, I would have to say BIBI. I feel like she is my little, odd, human baby. I'm weird.

What is/are your favorite item(s) that you bought from Etsy?

I am a huge fangirl for fellow Tea Party member imyourpresent. It's embarrassing how many items I have purchased from her. She is genius.

Tell us about your family members.

I have an awesome family. My mom is very handy with powertools, and my dad is like a math and physics wizard. I have a brother who is 6 years younger than I am, and we are so different but still get along. He's married and a grown up, and he is also my web-master!

If you were stranded on an island and could only bring three things, what would they be?

My dog. My laptop (there's wifi there, right?). A machine that churns out an endless number of brownies!

What things inspire you to craft/create?

Just living and being!! I love making things in my head come to reality. It's the most gratifying feeling ever!

What advice do you have for fledgling Etsy sellers?

Stay true to yourself. The most unique thing about your business is you, so don't mind what others are doing or what's trendy. Make what you love.