Sunday, January 26, 2014

buy handmade vol 92

This week we head to Washington..



Name: Scott Dobner
Age: 40
Occupation: Geologist/Geotechnical Specialist
Etsy Shop: BottlesReBorn

Tell us a little about yourself.
I am and will always be an avid outdoor enthusiast.  Any time I can get in the mountains I feel at home.  That includes hiking, backpacking, camping, rockhounding etc.  I am a sucker for anything aesthetically pleasing which is why I enjoy making these products.  I also love photography which gets me right back in the mountains!  I have a beautiful wife and two kids and I can’t wait to share my love for the outdoors as well.

When did you start creating and how long have you been on Etsy?
 I started this small venture about two and a half years ago and I’ve been on Etsy for almost 1 year.

How did you come up with your business name, is there any special meaning behind it?
I really wanted to make sure that the name reflected the fact that the products are re-used and environmentally friendly.  I think the meaning is pretty obvious.



Has your Etsy shop become your full time job? If not, would you like it to be?
It is not my full time job, but I’m not sure I want it to be.  I’ve been thinking of business ideas that would incorporate my products.

How would you describe your creative process?
Well, I had seen these made by other people before at craft shows and markets and admired them.  It took me a while to perfect my methods though.  Lots of trial and error.

Where do you get your inspiration from?
Friends of mine were saving their empty bottles to have made into glasses by an acquaintance.  That person stopped making them so I went to Youtube to get ideas and off I went!

  


 

What is your most cherished handmade item?
The glasses are my favorite but in particular some of the local beers hold personal significance.

Apart from creating things, what do you like to do?
Spending time with my kids/family of course.  As I mentioned before, I love the outdoors (hiking, backpacking, rockhounding, photography, camping, running, kayaking)!  I am a big sports fan and as you can guess I’m excited about my Seahawks on Feb. 2nd

Was there ever any other job you dreamed of having growing up?
The only ones I can remember was a physical therapist and archeologist.  Don’t know if I dreamed of them though.



Five years from now you will be…
…possibly running my own business with my twin brother…stay tuned!

Describe yourself in five words:
Thoughtful, creative, athletic, empathetic and caring.





Carrying on with the five theme, if I were to turn on your <insert whatever type of music player you use here>, what five artists/songs would I see on your recently played list?


Justin Timberlake, Godsmack, Crosby Stills & Nash, James Taylor and the soundtrack to Madagascar 3.

Lastly, do you have any advice for anyone thinking about opening their own shop or participating in craft shows?
Do a lot of research to get started off on the right foot.  I wanted to make sure I didn’t over price an item or oversell the quality too much.  As a result, all my reviews have been 5/5.  There were a couple hiccups but I made concessions to the customer in those cases to make sure they were satisfied.


I can say from personal experience how awesome his glasses are. (I got one for my brother for Christmas) Go check out his shop and buy a set!