Veganville

Today's featured shop is Veganville!  Whether you're vegan, lactose intolerant, or just interested in healthy treat alternatives, you'll love this shop!  Owner Gigi specializes in drool-worthy cakes, cookies and brownies - just take a look at some of the pictures!  Seriously, if all vegan baked goods looked this scrumptious, I would never eat eggs or milk again!

Vegan PB and Chocolate Chip Just Got Married Voopee Pies Perfect Gift

CM: Tell us a bit about yourself...
G: Well if a psychic told me 20 years ago that I'd be baking for a living I would have called them half baked and told them they were in the wrong business.  I loved cooking but baking...eh not so much. I pretty much sucked at baking, unless it had something illegal in it (that's in the past now).  In the past I've worked a lot of different jobs to support my writing and acting/career (which I've made money at). I've worked in kitchens, managed a health food store, coached tennis and was even an elf once. . I love animals and my firends, and have been a vegetarian for several decades and a vegan for about 6 or 7.
Oh yeah, did I tell you I'm an Aries?

Vegan Whoopie Pie Voopee Assortment Gift Box Perfect Gift 

CM: When and how did you start baking vegan treats?
G: Life journeys can include a lot of intersecting paths. I started baking about 17 years ago. One day my sister who had two toddlers at the time decided to make oatmeal cookies. One of the kids needed her attention and I was left with an unfinished batter. I threw in everything but the kitchen sink. Chips, raisins, two kinds of nuts you name it. My sister used to have people over everyday and everyone raved about these crazy oatmeal cookies. I started baking them every day and figured if I could bake crazy good oatmeal cookies then I could bake more things. I'm a voracious reader so I started soaking up everything from Julia to Moosewood. 8 years later I started selling baked goods. Then I became a vegan and had to learn how to bake without sacirficing taste and without using any animal product.  I decided I would give up baking before I used an egg.

Vegan Gummies Beyond the Sea Cupcakes Perfect Gift

CM: What got you interested in selling your treats on Etsy?
G: My talented friend Gil, told me to check out Etsy. He never lets me forget it either ;) I really loved the idea of sharing my baked goods with someone in a remote area of the country who might not have access to vegan products. I also loved sharing food with a wider community. It's like I can break bread with someone in Diluth or Little Rock.

Vegan Peanut Butter Swirl Smarty Pants Brownie

CM: What's the best thing about selling on Etsy?   The most challenging?
G: See above. I love the sense of community. I belong to Etsyveg and Veganetsy and SFetsy. I've become really great friends with people I met on Etsy. One of my buds from Etsy lives about ten minutes away.We met through her blog. Shoutout to Roni my buddy at Daisywares!
For a brief moment shipping prices were daunting, then one of my teamies told me about flat-rate boxes. yay!

Vegan Peanut Butter Craver Assortment Box

CM:What's your favorite item from your shop right now?
G: Oh no! This is like a choosing a favorite child or in my case cat. Where's Solomon? I'm going to say my sample box (so I leave nobody out).

Wake up to Chocolate and Coffee Vegan Whoopee Pie

CM: Do you have a favorite shop or item on Etsy?
G: I don't want to leave anyone out here either but I've gotta give a big plug to everyone on my Etsyveg team! It's such a great supportive group of such talented artisans. Please check out the team!
I do a lot of shopping on Etsy too. I get a lot of gifts for friends and relatives, for me too.
     Shop: I love the Australian shop Rraps... they make headwraps that can be worn in a variety of ways. They are great for the kitchen and I wear mine all the time.
     Item(s): A while back I favorited a tiny polymer robot holding a pig but it sold.  My new favorite sleepy robot is the chef robot. It's so cute it makes me weep.
My husband even knows to check out my faves. If you're reading this Larry, check out this. On there you can find a gorgeous array of unique silver jewelry.

A big thanks to Gigi!  Stay tuned for more great Etsy shops!!