Rebecca of Tulip Tree Baby is the winner of our Homefront Red, White, & Blue Challenge with her adorable summer suits.  She’s a mom of 2 and sister to many.  With interests as diverse as botany and quilting, paper crafts and knitting.  A fun eclectic shop run by someone always there with an answer about trees (she is a horticulturalist after all) as well as life with her sweet classic views on it.  Don’t forget to check her out and remember to look for more Tulip Trees in the future.

What was your inspiration for your entry?
My 2 little girls! I wanted to do something for the challenge that they could also enjoy. They have enough blankets for 10 children so I decided that some cute coordinating outfits would be fun for the 4th of July BBQ. I am especially partial to the summer suits, as I have patterned them after the same rompers I wore as a child and that I see my relatives wearing in pictures from the 1950s.

How long have you been sewing, knitting, crafting?
I started my first quilt when I was 5, knitting at around age 10, paper crafts in my teen years, and machine sewing when I had kids of my own.

What inspires you to create your items?
Mainly practical reasons. I like to make things that I would use for my girls or be happy to give as a gift. Or I think, ‘would I want to receive this as a gift?’

Do you have any major influences?
My mother was always working on quilts or other projects while I was growing up. She has inspired me to learn many talents and not to be shy about learning new skills and talents. I also have many siblings, all of whom have their own particular talents. It is all very motivating for me.

When did you decide to start your own business and what prompted you to do so?
As soon as I learned about etsy I wanted to be a part of it! It was earlier this year and my baby was just starting to develop some better sleeping patterns so I wanted to be engaged in some real projects again to sort of wake me up from the sleepy life I had been living those days. But I exercised really good self-control, I signed up in January and didn’t start selling things until I was ready in March.

Has being a military spouse had an impact on your business ? How so?
For the most part, no. Because we are new to the Navy we haven’t been immersed into that lifestyle yet. The one positive impact on it has been being a part of the Homefront team. It has been a great help in networking, promoting and staying connected with others who are also passionate about the things they make.

How did you find ETSY? Has it been beneficial for your business – good /bad?
I found etsy through a friend who started her own etsy shop. I looked around for a bit and knew this was the place for me! Etsy was the start of my business. At this point it is still mainly just a giant hobby for me, and I would probably still just be giving away my creations if I hadn’t stumbled upon etsy!

How did you come up with the name of your store?
I am a horticulturist and trees are my particular specialty. Tulip Tree (Liriodendron tulipifera) is my favorite tree and something I identify with. ‘Baby’ is just to state the obvious; that I sell baby products. My only hesitation to using the name ‘Tulip Tree’ was that most people think I am really talking about a saucer magnolia and, being the nerd that I am, it sort of drives me nuts. So lets make this clear, tulip trees are a summer blooming tree and all the flowers are always yellow, never pink, purple, or white. Glad we cleared that up Feel free to google it if you really want to know!

Do you sell outside of ETSY? If so, where?
I sell some things to people that I know in ‘real life,’ but I do not have any other site of business.

Do you work outside of your business?
I take care of my two small children; that Is my work. Etsy is my play

How do you juggle being a military spouse and running your own business?
Being a Navy wife has not been a factor as of yet, but in general I handle my business mostly when my children are sleeping.

How did your spouse/family react to you starting your own business?
My husband is glad to see me getting back to what I love doing. I had been pretty overwhelmed for a long time after having my second child and focusing my free time on etsy has been a big stress relief for me, and consequently, my family. Though admittedly the house has seen better days!

What are your hobbies?
Gardening, identifying plants, quilting, bird watching, knitting, sewing, scrapbooking, traveling, hiking, running (when I am in shape), taking classes, oil painting, and learning new things.

What is the best and worst thing that has happened after starting your business?
The best thing was my first sale, a double sale at that! The worst thing was being without my sewing machine for over a month!

Is there anything you would change?
I don’t think so. I like where I am at and what I am doing. I think I just would have wanted to be a part of etsy long ago when I was single and had more freedom of time!

If you had one wish what would it be?
To follow my longtime dream of working at a botanical garden, or even volunteering. My time working at the Oregon Garden was the best time of my life and I regret not being connected with that anymore. I feel as if I am being left behind from something that meant so much to me. But it is more important for me to be there for my kids so that will have to wait. Being at home is often hard, but it is the best thing for my girls. So in replacement of that wish, I’ll take a full time maid!

What is your goal for the next 6 months?
To increase my product variety and continue to have regular sales. I am also working on opening another ‘Tulip Tree’ store that will focus on other household and gardening related products. I hope to launch this new store sometime in the next couple of months.