Five Forty

Etsy Shop Name: Five Forty

What you sell: I sell one of a kind handwoven rag rugs, not your usual rag rug, mine are woven with recycled textile for both warp and weft. I have adapted an upright tapestry loom to weave with rag. Soft and cushy felted wool, sturdy denim or corduroy. Warm your soles with one of my beautiful rugs!

I also make and sell one of a kind beaded beach pebble and gemstone jewelry. I love working with Lake Superior beach pebbles, but also love working with semi precious gemstones, freshwater pearls, and of course colour. I love colour and texture. I have added some felted wool jewelry to my shop, felted wool cuffs and some needle felted beads.

Tell us about your featured item: My featured item is a gorgeous rug, woven with recycled felted wool sweaters. It is a runner 25” x 55”, woven with a range of pumpkin, gold, brown, grey and green. It is cozy warm, it will warm your soles!!

Is your Etsy shop a full-time job, part-time job, or hobby?

Etsy is a part time job for me, but I am hoping it will turn into a full time job. I really love what I am doing, and with more marketing I am hoping my sales will increase.

Do you enjoy, loathe, or simply accept the necessity of record keeping for your business? Why?

I loathe record keeping. I feel it interferes with my creative process! I do realize it is a necessity, and do bare bones record keeping. Stuffing receipts in a drawer. Hard to imagine my dad was an accountant, his skills did not rub off on me.