I always love hearing about handmade seller’s day jobs because it’s really interesting to find out what crafters do for their 9-5 jobs. Before I sold jewelry at Plume Adore, I was an office manager of a dating service! CHEESY.

Liz Cleek of the fantastic shop remixstudio took some time out to answer my questions on her day job for Handmade Spark.

Tell us about yourself:

I’m a twenty-something from Des Moines, Iowa with an inability to focus and a love of things re-purposed. I live in an 1880’s house with two roommates and a large passel of squirrels in the yard. I studied Graphic Design and English in college, but if I could go back a few years in time, I think I would have done something different.

Where do you work and what do you do?

By day, I’m a graphic designer for a small study here in town. Because we are on the small side, I take care of designing things such as emails and updating websites, but I also take care of answering the phone and sorting mail.

What do you sell on Etsy?

I started with selling purses made from old t-shirts. I’ve expanded to include other things like sleeves and cozies and some art.

Do you have dreams of quitting your day job?

Yes, but not to solely sell on Etsy. In my spare time, I do Etsy stuff, but I also am working on starting my own photography business. I think in an ideal world, I would craft part time, because I love the tangibility of making stuff, and then do wedding photography part time, because I love capturing memories for people.

How do you juggle the stress of both?

Luckily for me, I’m a very mellow person. I’m also a bit of a home-body, so I have plenty of free time. Especially since I don’t depend on my Etsy income as my main source of income, it’s very relaxed for me. If I’m feeling stressed, I can take a break, though I’ve recently reached the point where I’d like to run my shop more seriously, so I suspect the stress will increase a bit.

What’s your family life like?

Well, I’m a single adult who lives with roommates, but three hours away from the bulk of my family (minus my sister who goes to college nearby) so I don’t have many concerns family wise. Now dating wise….

Do your coworkers know about your Etsy life?

I think I mentioned when I started working there about Etsy, as I introduced my boss to it, but other than that I’ve never mentioned it.

What are your future shop goals?

I just recently applied for my state tax id, and have sent in my “Doing Business As” form, so that is really helping me feel legitimate and giving me a bit of “umpf” to make this thing a real, profit making business. I’d like to within the next year do some of the great craft shows we have in the area.

Be sure to check Liz out on Twitter, her blog and of course, Etsy!