Melissa Pettit wants to welcome guests at your home. The head crafter behind small shop East on Twenty Designs uses vinyl stencils to create, among other things, custom doormats for the front door. “The most popular design so far this year is the ‘Welcome to our Lakehouse’ doormat,” she shared. “This spring, I brainstormed about what I would want in front of my door and we were in the process of trying to buy a lake house, so many of my new designs revolved around the lakes and woods.”
Pettit was gifted her first cutting machine last August and she immediately got familiar with how to use it. “I honestly didn’t even know what it was but I knew it had something to do with crafts. I watched videos, read blogs and joined groups, so that I would be an instant pro. Instant pro I was not, but it was love at first cut,” she professed. Pettit soon expanded into screen-printed t-shirts, personalized gifts, and of course, her popular doormats. “The doormats started selling well and I just kept adding designs. In the fall, I found a winning design and could barely keep up with the orders,” said Pettit. “I was not new to Etsy, as I had been running a successful crochet shop for four years. For a little while, I had them both open at the same time, but that was short lived because I became way too busy with the new venture to continue with the old. And this was way more fun!”
While Pettit is having fun crafting, she is also extra conscious of costs for her customers. “I offer my items for affordable prices with quick turn around. As a thrifty mom of four, I understand what it is like to want nice things for my home on a tight budget,” she explained. “I charge as little for shipping as possible and when I am able to ship for less than quoted, I refund the overage.” Her favorite part of the design process is “being able to take a customer’s rough idea and turn it into something that they love. So often I think I’m sending a mock-up that maybe isn’t a real winner, but then they end up loving it. I also enjoy seeing my designs randomly around the small town where we live. I just can’t help but smile. “ The shop name East on Twenty Designs originates from Pettit’s own home in Indiana. “I live about a quarter mile north of US Highway 20, which spans from coast to coast. Because my business is based out of my home, I was constantly telling people from my small town to go east on 20 to come pick up their orders,” she smiled. “Plus, I’m a New England girl transplanted in the Midwest. When I want to head back to see my family in Connecticut, I have to go east on 20.”
East on Twenty Designs recently introduced a new product to market: “I just started selling neoprene drink sleeves. They come to me blank and I have many designs to choose from or customers are welcome to purchase a custom design. I am the only shop on Etsy that sells these. They are great for iced coffees, frozen drinks and even sodas from the famous drive-thru restaurants. They keep drinks cold longer, prevent the annoying puddle of condensation and keep your fingers warm, which is important for those crazy people who drink iced coffee in the winter. The sleeve by itself is such a great thing and being able to have them personalized is just an added bonus.” Sounds like a perfect hostess gift! Check out all of the custom gifts from East on Twenty Designs in its Etsy shop and Facebook page here. Plus, use the code AUTUMN19 to save 15% off anything in the shop. Thanks Melissa!
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