Lorigami

Name: Lori

Shop Name: Lorigami

Shop Link: www.lorigami.etsy.com
Location: Atlanta
Ships To: Anywhere except Nigeria

What materials do you use for your ECO friendly products? Secondhand sweaters, pillowcases, buttons, silverware - anything that whispers at me when I walk by.

Why did you decide to make ECO friendly products? I grew up in a family of resourceful people. They bought quality, then recycled and reused as a matter of course, because it was silly to throw perfectly good things away. It wasn't so much "save the planet" as it was just common sense, and I guess I never got out of that mindset. When I started at Etsy, I was mostly knitting, and I would go to the secondhand stores looking for sweaters to unravel for yarn. I kept seeing all these things that were lovely and in great shape, but just out of style. I thought they looked so sad sitting there and knew I had to take them home and love them.
Unfortunately, I tend to do the same thing with kittens.

What inspires you? I was an only child so I used to make up stories about objects and people I saw on the street. I never really outgrew it, and wind up weaving whole histories for a prom dress or antique button, or a chipped saucer. At least on Etsy, people don't think I'm crazy, haha.

How long have you had your shop on Etsy? hmm. I think the current one for about 2 years. I remember registering when they first started, but I didn't use it and I got cleared out of their system and had to re-register.

Is this a job for you or a hobby? This is my job. Scary!

How did you get into your craft? My mother taught me to sew in grade school because I was really scrawny and nothing fit right. I actally had my first business in 9th grade selling dresses to my classmates.


Do you have any advice for fellow Etsy shop owners? I see a lot of good advice everywhere; in the forums, on blogs, in books. There is so much advice out there already. The only thing I can add is that you have to do what feels right to you. That doesn't mean only doing what's "comfortable" because pushing yourself is essential for growth, but it does mean that you have to sleep at night. If you're doing something only to make money, it will show, and it will wear you down. Crafting should be satisfying and make you feel good at the end of the day, otherwise what was the point?

Anything else you would like to add?
how about a cookie recipe? =D
Gingersnaps!
1 cup packed brown sugar
3/4 cup butter (or earth balance if you're vegan)
1/4 cup molasses
1 egg (or 2t cornstarch and a little water if you're vegan)
2 cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking soda
1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon ground ginger
granulated sugar for decorating

Preheat your oven to 375 degrees.

In a large bowl, mix together the brown sugar, earth balance, molasses, and egg (or egg substitute). In another bowl, mix flour, baking soda, salt, cloves, cinnamon, and ginger, then stir into the molasses mixture.

Scoop out spoonfuls of dough and roll them into balls, dipping them in the sugar before placing them 2 inches apart on an ungreased cookie sheet.

Bake for 10 to 12 minutes, or until the center is firm. Remove from sheet while hot and cool on wire racks.

Eat at least a dozen. =D