I grew up in a small town just outside of Grand Rapids, Michigan. My memories of growing up always include my Mom, sitting at the kitchen table, creating something wonderful with her hands. It was not until I got married and had kids that I realized I shared this passion with her.
In March of 2007, I read an article in the local newspaper about Etsy and immediately called my Mom. We had been looking for a way to sell our creations but were struggling to find the right outlet. Within a few weeks, we each opened our own shops on Etsy and never looked back.
My first shop on Etsy was called MissBeaHaven, a name I had given my papier mache collectibles. I enjoyed it so much that I opened a second shop, humbleBea, where I sold handmade children’s clothing. Because my crafts and passions are forever changing, I eventually decided to combine both shops into one: humbleBea. Some of my first Etsy friends still refer to me as Miss Bea and it always brings back fond memories of the good ole days.
My Mom’s Etsy shop, TwoLeftHands, was nothing short of amazing. She put her heart and soul into each and every one of her creations and sold them all over the world. We lost her to cancer in 2013 and, despite her illness, she continued to embroider until the very end. Not a day goes by that I do not think of her. You can browse some of her beautiful handmade items here:
https://www.etsy.com/people/humblebea/favorites/made-with-love-by-my-sweet-mom
Etsy soon became a family affair. My son, Noah, at the age of 9, ran his own shop where he sold little books that he had written. My daughter, Mackenzie, enjoyed shopping on Etsy and occasionally modeled for my shop. During the recession, my husband, Gary, opened a fabric shop, humbleBoy. Haha, see what we did there? I eventually took over the fabric shop, where I carry a great selection of beautiful designer fabrics.
humbleBoy.etsy.com
I temporarily closed my humbleBea shop before my Mom passed away. Since then, my husband and I followed our two grown kids to Ohio, where they would each be attending college. Now that we are settled in and things have settled down, humbleBea is up and running again! I am thrilled to have a new craft room that is close to the kitchen sink and the stove, where I bake my collectibles.
Why all the Bea’s? My name is not Bea. My Mom’s name is not Bea. I do not have a great, great grandmother, a dog, or a furry hamster named Bea. The reason? Our last name is Kibbe, pronounced Kib-bee, and I have been collecting bees since I got married. Plus, humbleBea happens to rhyme with bumblebee, so it just seemed right.
For the record, we do have a pair of shih-tzus, Gracie and Oliver, and a furry hamster called Petunia Potter.