Are you ready for our second giveaway in the Summer of Austen? This sponsor made a special item just for this giveaway!

About the shop: The Tiny Wren

Tell us about your shop. What do you sell? How long have you been on Etsy?

Hi! I’m Tracy, owner of The Tiny Wren. I come from a long line of crafters, and have been a maker as long as I can remember. I’m terrible at math and critical thinking, but turn me loose in the craft store and I’m gone for hours, my brain whirling with ideas. Creating is my happy place, and though I dabble in a little bit of everything, I’ve most recently settled on jewelry design. I have a long term love affair with historical fashion, and much of my jewelry is influenced by the romance of bygone eras. I adore the vintage look, and often will incorporate vintage or antique objects into my pieces. My favorite thing to do is scour flea markets and antique stores for broken jewelry or time worn trinkets that can be given a new life. I got into jewelry design when, three months before our wedding, my husband was suddenly having major surgery and I needed a distraction. I made myself a necklace while sitting at his bedside as he recovered. It came out quite nice, and I enjoyed the sense of calm that overtook me while working on it. I then decided to make my sister a necklace for the wedding, and after the ceremony my new daughter-in-law told me about Etsy. That was ten years ago, and I’ve been selling (and buying, lots of buying!) ever since.

What appeals to you about Jane Austen’s writing?

The thing I love most about Jane Austen is her wit. I would dearly love to sit down and a have tea with this woman, because I think we would get along well and laugh quite a bit! I often wonder what she would think about the world today and the woman’s place in it. I think she would have taken our world by storm.

Do you have a favorite Jane Austen book or character?

My favorite book is Pride and Prejudice. I am a die hard romantic, and I think this is the ultimate love story. Plus, I think I identify with Lizzie…”obstinate, headstrong girl” rather describes me well! Don’t tell anyone, but the Keira Knightley version of the movie is honestly what helped me discover Jane. I know a lot of true Jane fans really hate this movie, but it opened a door for me. It broke things down into my language and focused on the heart of the story, and I loved it so much I decided it was time to read the book. The rest, as they say, is history! Now I’m obsessed, and I even made the trip to Bath, England last year for the Jane Austen Festival. I wanted to stay forever!

What do love about your work?

I think what I love most about my work is that it’s a form of therapy to me. I love how I feel when I’m designing. Even just playing around with beads or going through my vintage hoard makes me feel better on a bad day, even if I don’t actually make anything. I have desperately needed that over the years, as the surgery my husband had was for cancer, and there have been many, many days when I needed some stress relief. He passed away just this past Christmas after eleven years of fighting, and I walked away from creating for awhile. The desire totally left me. But with this spring came the need for face masks, so I started sewing again whether I wanted to or not. That cracked through my wall of indifference, and I felt my creative juices liquify and start to flow again. That happiness I feel when I am making something is returning and helping me to heal, and I know he is still sitting in his favorite chair in the studio and watching me work, and being more enthusiastic about jewelry than any husband should ever be expected to be!

Do you have a favorite item you’ve created?

All my pieces are my favorites! Each piece I make is one of a kind, and I will admit, there have been some I’ve been unable to part with. But the one that means the most to me is that first one I made all those years ago that sparked the desire to create jewelry. I don’t wear it often, but every time I do, I am grateful.

About the giveaway

Exclusive handmade earrings inspired by Emma and an 1800s Regency portrait

Open to U.S. residents only, ages 13 and over, except where prohibited by law. No purchase necessary to enter or win.
Sponsored by The Tiny Wren. Not sponsored or endorsed by Etsy, Facebook, or Twitter.
Giveaway opens Monday, June 22, 2020 at 12 a.m. EST and ends Saturday, July 3, 2020 at 12 a.m. EST. One winner will be chosen at random and contacted via email. If the winner does not claim their prize within two days of notification, a new winner will be selected. Odds of winning dependent on number of entries received. Winner will be announced on Facebook and Twitter after confirmation.
Prize is one (1) set of two handmade earrings.
Entries submitted via bot or automatic entry service are invalid and cannot win.
Email emilyrachellewrites@gmail.com with questions.