Etsy Around the World: WindTwirler

For our next Etsy Around the World Holiday shopping, we are visiting a shop full of things for her -- mom, sis, friends. If you admire those artists who can turn a sheet of paper into an amazing origami piece and the jewelers who make earrings out of anything, you are going to love Windtwirler. She is able to combine the two into some very stunning items.

Who are you?
Heather Taylor
Windtwirler

Where are you located?
Corpus Christi Tx and Rockledge Fl

What do you create?
Paper Performances: miniature origami usually in the form of earrings, radish earrings both beaded and crochet, unique purses and bags

Have you ever visited North Carolina?
I have been to North Carolina many times. My favorite time this summer was walking to the top of Clingman’s Dome and remembering all the times my dad took me there when I was a little girl. Actually I love everything about the mountains in North Carolina.

What is your favorite place to visit in your hometown (Rockledge Florida)?
My favorite place to visit in my hometown is my home because my mom is there. I also enjoy the manatees and windsurfing in the Indian River Lagoon.

What inspires you?
I am inspired by the qualities of a particular paper or bead. When I hold a piece of paper I will get a vision of what that paper is "meant" to be.

I am just as often inspired by a customer's request. Sometimes this is even more fun and productive. I suppose customer's ideas light a fire in my imagination.

Where do you create?
Almost everywhere, I always have bits of paper with me. “Never and idle moment.” My passion for origami has gotten me through many long waits.

Why did you choose your shop name?
I chose the name Windtwirler because I love to windsurf and my daughter loves to twirl a baton.

What is the most time consuming part of your craft?
The most time consuming part of my craft is learning to fold new designs. As far as the actual production of the origami earrings, the most time consuming step is always the folding.

How do you envision your creations being used by your customers?
I have a vision of my creations hanging from people’s earlobes.

When did you start creating?
I have been folding origami since I was 4 or 5 years old. I began making earrings almost a year ago when the bottom fell out of the radish earring market.

I have been making radish earrings since I was 15 years old. I went on a trip to Germany and the mom of my host family asked me to make her veggie earrings. I began crocheting when I was 4 years old- my grandmother taught me and I had taken some bedspread cotton and crochet hooks to Germany with me.

I have been making beaded jewelry since I was 11 years old. Every summer I went to stay with my aunt and uncle in the suburbs of Chicago. My aunt would not leave the house so she would put me in a cab and one cabbie took me to a craft/beading shop and I have done beading sporadically ever since

What types of things do you do to turn first time buyers into repeat clients?
I ship my items immediately in pretty packaging with a thank you card.

What do you do when you are not creating?
I windsurf and spend time with my children. Well, to be honest, I spend a lot of time driving them from one activity to another. So I actually spend a good deal of time driving in circles. This is when I think up new designs.

What is your favorite or most cherished handmade item that you own?
I own so many handmade items that are dear to my heart. I have blankets that my mom and grandma crocheted and knitted. My mom refinished much of the furniture that my aunt left me. Everywhere I look I see a handmade heartfelt memory.