I did it. I finally got my Etsy shop reopened though it was a more emotional process than I anticipated.
First lets get to the shop information before I share the saga of the reopening. “tierneycreates” is no more as far as Etsy shops, it is now called…(drum roll):
Textiles and Smiles (TextilesandSmiles on Etsy)!

Here is the explanation I provide on my Etsy shop page:
For years on my tierneycreates.com/blog I’ve promised to re-open my tierneycreates Etsy shop that I first opened in 2013. Finally the shop is re-opened and has a new name: Textiles and Smiles! As my tagline is “tierneycreates: a fusion of textiles & smiles”, I want to focus on providing customers with fun products that make them smile! To celebrate the shop re-opening, I am including a little fabric wallet with each order until I run out.
Here is what actually happened that led to the permanent closing of my “tierneycreates” Etsy shop and the creation of the new name/opening of a brand new shop:
In order to update the bank account information in a shop you have to provide the previous bank account information that you had listed. It has been over 2 1/2 years since I banked with my credit union in Central Oregon where I lived for 14 years before moving to the Denver Metro area. I contacted them and they did not have the bank account information (the full bank account number like what you would use to set up direct deposit, etc.) for the last 4 digits that Etsy had listed.
It was very upsetting as without this information Etsy could not allow you to set up a new bank account on an existing shop. There was no way around this except to close my shop and start a new one. In the moment, I pretty much had a total meltdown. It was one more thing I’ve lost from my life since December 2018 when my husband died. I had to lose all the wonderful reviews I had on the tierneycreates shop and the history of being an Etsy seller since 2013. This is not the end of the world but given all the “losses” (real or perceived) I’ve had since late 2018, it crushed me.
What are those losses I reference? Well the all losses are connected to my “identity” or how I’ve identified myself (such as a wife/longtime partner, a resident of Central Oregon which I loved so much, the co-owner of my house that I loved so much in Oregon, etc.) I’ve had to reinvent myself and start a new life in Denver (because I could not bear to stay in Central Oregon without Terry). I also recently left my job of 16 years to take some time off and I did not realize until I left my job how much I also found identity in my job.
Yes, it was like I became quite unhinged with this one more “loss of identity” even though in the whole scheme of life it was not a big thing.
I also struggled with the reopening the shop because the late Terry the Quilting Husband was my partner in the shop and did a lot of the assistant work (like cutting and preliminary sewing) for me. The “tierneycreates Etsy shop” was more like the “Tierney and Terry” shop.
But…
As I seem to have to keep doing over and over again (and I accept most of the time this is my reality), I finally realized (with the help of patient partner John) that I must REINVENT myself and that it is okay that I start over on Etsy with no reviews, no history, and opened a shop with a new name. I am trying not to see it as another loss.
It has been nearly three years since I suddenly lost my husband and although I have good life with my partner John, I continue to feel “lost” in life. It’s difficult to put into words but there are still too many days that involve putting on a brave face and getting through the day (and yes I’ve done grief support and individual counseling) and few notice. I guess this is just my reality and I work around it!
I think I sound like a “hot mess” and I could have just told you I’ve reopened my Etsy shop with a new name but I felt a need to “overshare” (smile).
Okay the oversharing is over now, and I will share a little about my NEW Etsy Shop.
- My new offerings include handmade drawstring/project bags and little pillows.
- I’ve brought back miniature kimonos and one table runner.
- My partner John has made sets of wooden spools from his woodshop for the shop.
- I’ve put together “Creativity Kits” to provide the materials and patterns you need to make a jelly roll quilt.
I share in future posts more information about my offerings and my process making them.
Here are some additional screenshots from the Textiles and Smiles Etsy Shop:



How can you support my new shop (without doing all your holiday shopping from it – ha!)? Well if you already have an Etsy account, I would appreciate if you made it one of your favorite shops by clicking on the “Favorite Shop” icon:

(Unless you totally hate it and do not want to be associated with my new shop in any way – ha!)
So you all are the first to officially know and I going to make some announcements now via other channels such as Instagram, etc.
More to come!
Yay! I love the new name!
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Thanks so much Alissa!
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Thank for sharing your moving but inspiring story. And congrats on opening your new shop. May you keep reinvesting yourself; cherishing old (and creating new) happy memories!
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Thanks so much Khaya I really appreciate your comments and for reading my oversharing 🙂
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I’m happy to hear you have re-opened your shop Tierney. I can’t possibly understand all that you have gone through and are going through still, but I do know that you are very brave and courageous. Xx Monique
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Thanks so much Monique I appreciate your kind and thoughtful comments 🙂
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Hi Tierney! I LOVE the new shop name ❤ I'll head right over and make it a new Favorite Shop of mine. I can only imagine how upsetting it was to lose all that history with tierneycreates… I'm so sorry. I hope your new shop will bring you plenty of new memories to help ease the pain.
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Thanks so much Sharon! I had a great first day open and thanks for being part of that 🙂
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Congratulations on the opening of your new shop! It sounds like it’s been tough, scary, annoying (the bank!), stressful, etc – but what an opportunity to get those creative juices going and to start afresh – with a little bit of knowing how it all works rather than being completely new to it. Wishing you lots of happy customers full of smiles xxx
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Thanks so much I really appreciate your thoughtful comments and encouragement 🙂
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When you’ve already had to deal with several major setbacks it’s not surprising that another one, even if it seems like a minor one to some people, is just too much to deal with. It is certainly annoying to lose your Etsy history! I am happy for you that you opened a new store and I hope it’ll be successful!
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Thanks so much Emmely and I am okay now with the name change and new store. I had a good first day open (5 sales) 🙂
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Good gravy, I though Amazon was nutty about the rules they put on their sellers’ (and authors’) accounts. I got frustrated with Etsy many many years ago (as a seller) and it doesn’t seem like much has changed. Still, congrats on the new shop. And really I think we (especially women) are always having to reinvent ourselves throughout our lives. The only constant is change, right. Okay, now to go do some browsing…. and CONGRATS again!!!!
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Thanks so much Tammie and I will not make self reinvention a new hobby, there are better hobbies! Yes Etsy is so inflexible but I can see why they do it because accounts could be hacked. I think I was meant to start fresh 🙂
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I congratulate you on getting to this milestone, maybe not as you envisioned, but you have done it and I am happy for you. I also applaud your bravery in revealing your feelings. Though I’ve had different challenges than you I know very well the toll multiple losses take, and I am understanding that as I get older, it’s a characteristic of this time of life I am in. But, we will face them together, won’t we? As best we can. Your shop is so colorful and the softness of fabric work is comforting. Good luck and great sales!
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Thanks so much Claudia, I appreciate your thoughtful comments 🙂
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Congratulations on your new shop!
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Thanks so much 🙂
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Your shop will be a success because of your indomitable spirit! Congratulations and blessings on your new-ish venture. You got this, girl!!
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Thanks so much I really appreciate that!
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Braveheart…that’s what you are, Tierney.
The revamp really looks good and your selection of items is impressive – quality/variety/price wise. I have to say, I do remember those cutie cloth wallets from way back when on your blog while you were still living in Oregon!!!
😎
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Thanks so much, I’ve sold 7 things so far and I am still toying with whether to list the little wallets – maybe in packets of 5 or something as postage is high these days to just sell one at a time!
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I’ll second your thought about selling them in packets of 5…that also gives the buyer an ‘idea’ subliminally to give out extras as little gifts – just thinking out loud.
But yes the postage situation has been out of hand for awhile and literally getting worse – and no ‘trickle down effect’ for the workers…geesh. I was in line just yesterday and an elderly woman had a small lightweight package to mail and was told it would cost $80, then $60 if she repacked it into a puffy envelope!!!!!! I went up to the counter and laid down a ‘spare’ (!) $20 bill to help with the dumb-dumb cost but of course, she was a proud one (aren’t we all??!) and just left to repack her gift and come back later.
Sorry, I’m venting, I know!!!
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Oh that is awesome you tried helped her out in a pinch and that is ridiculous the postage prices. I think she should have just said thank you and took your money to save herself time in life!
Thanks for your idea on the little wallets!
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I’m with you, I was thinking more along the lines of not having to come back and wait in line again – however the first words out of her mouth were, “I can afford it!” So I knew right then we weren’t on the same wavelength!!!
To be clear: feisty is good in older aged persons!
🙂
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If you ever try to buy my groceries, I promise to just say thank you 😉
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And I promise to be discreet!!!!!!
Enjoy your first weekend in December.
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Congratulations on the new shop. Being overwhelmed is totally normal with what you have been through and I think with moving states and covid on top of that you’ve ticked off a couple of the big life stresses in one short period of time. Be proud of achieving your shop goal despite all the obstacles 🙂
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Thanks I appreciate your kind words and thoughtful comments 🙂
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Congratulations on your new shop! I am so sorry that you had one more loss and stress on top of all that you have already been through. However, your new shop is going to be a great success! You and John will make this new venture work out differently than your previous one, but it will be brilliant! In no time at all you will have tons of sales and excellent reviews across the board 🙂 Wishing you all success and happiness! (Also, I favorited you – I’m Different Charms/ Difference Engine Design on Etsy)
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Thanks so much on the congrats and your thoughtful comments and insights 🙂
I will go favorite you on Etsy!
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You should consider formally documenting your experience. I think a lot of men and women who have been through a similar journey could be helped.
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Thanks so much for your thoughts, we must be on the same wavelength as I was randomly thinking that today…
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Congratulations Tierney! And, I’m so glad you took the time to share the backstory!
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Thanks for reading my overshare and I appreciate your comments 🙂
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Congratulations, well done, hooray, all the best for your new venture, mazeltov, salutations…
I think you are very brave and I like the new name very much.
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Thanks so much Mariss! Not that you need anything from my shop but sorry I am not offering international shipping at this time. I am still hoping you get those treats I sent you months ago but perhaps someone else is enjoying them… 😦
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I am still checking out mail box. Even though postal deliveries have become erratic, I still have hope that your package will arrive
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Congratulations!! Wishing you great success,
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Thanks so much Alice I so appreciate that!
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