On The Sun and the Turtle.

Owls…owls…OWLS!

That’s the first thing that strikes me about The Sun and the Turtle, a Finland-based Etsy shop. I also have a weakness for really cute owls, so (of course) I got hit head-on by “want, want, want!”

With her partner, John, Jennifer keeps The Sun and the Turtle full of crocheted and knitted pieces. When I asked her which she prefers, she was split: “Tricky question :). I like to crochet the amigurumis. It’s a great feeling to see them form in my hands. Almost like magic, they form with my hook as the wand.

“At the same time, I make winter hats and mittens for the long winters in Finland, and I can knit for hours listening to audiobooks or talking with my partner John while we work with The Sun and the Turtle.

“I cannot choose! Both of them have their magic.”

Knitting, in my opinion, is one of the most difficult disciplines to sell on Etsy. It’s so very time-consuming, and since a majority of Etsy knit buyers are those who don’t know how, they don’t always realize how much work goes into a piece. In addition, amigurumis are a sub-market. Although they are, essentially, really adorable dolls and animals, some people don’t know that name for them and, therefore, don’t know to even search for them on Etsy! (For more about amigurumis, click here for an earlier post.)

So, I’m particularly pleased to have the opportunity to learn more about The Sun and the Turtle, because I’m all about increasing amigurumi exposure! And who wouldn’t want one of these adorable amigurumis? Jenn’s heart goes into them: “I love to be crazy with my amigurumis. Now it feels very fun to crochet them because I have hooked so many that I feel confident. I usually make a drawing first and then I start hooking them. The imagination is the limit. :)”

Once you get the hang of crocheting in the round, it’s simple! Try out this strawberry pattern as a good starter project.

In addition to the adorable strawberry, The Sun and the Turtle recently launched a blog, where there are some awesome free amigurumi patterns. You can check it out here.

Jennifer’s favorite item in her shop is her Knitted Owl iPhone pouch.

I seriously hope she’s using one herself, because I think just walking around with that would sell itself! She has a great feel for combining the essentials of an owl with her own splash of creativity; they’re recognizable as owls, but they’re also uniquely The Sun and the Turtle’s. These animals “come from our admiration for animals and nature. We spend a lot of time in the woods, and there you learn how to appreciate every single living form. Through that admiration and the crystallization of our ideas we spread a message of awareness because we want animals and nature to be treated with dignity and respect.”

It’s a lofty responsibility, but one that Jenn and John treat with pride. All the more admirable, because Jenn runs her shop while also attending school. She doesn’t see it as an added chore, though, but a “fun” responsibility. “I just make our products and post them once they are ready and well done. Then I continue with the gazillion things I have to do. It is a matter of organizing your time and not get too stressed about everything.” Words of wisdom I should take into my own heart as I go back for my master’s this September!

Finally, I brought up “The Great Etsy Christmas.” Etsy sellers have already begun preparing for this annual event, stocking their shop and buying extra supplies to ship out the upcoming high demand of items. In The Sun and the Turtle, expect to see some woolen winter hats rolling out in early October. My personal favorite is the one with the mermaid!

So, if you’re enjoying these unique creations as much as I am, come and check out The Sun and Turtle. The best part? Even though they’re in Finland, the internet brings them right to you! “Etsy is a global community where people appreciate all the wonderful creations despite nationality or borders. It is awesome when someone who believes in what you do can have it via post, and are willing to wait a few days more for the product to arrive.” I completely agree!

As always, if you’re an Etsy shop with personality, attitude, and a passion for creating, feel free to submit to be featured on amandajocrafts!