MarciG in Seventeen Magazine

Marci is featured in the June issue of Seventeen Magazine, in an article on teens who started their own business. Feature writer Farnoosh Torabi found Marci’s Etsy shop, MarciG, in February, along with many other possible teens on Etsy. She took her time and answered the interview questions thoroughly, telling her story of how she started her Etsy shop as a business after getting turned down for summer jobs last year. Marci’s writing skills undoubtedly helped catch Seventeen’s interest.

Since publication, Marci has had many sales to Seventeen readers, including a mom of a 12 year old who was reading Seventeen with her daughter. She’s gotten lots of fan mail from other teens asking about how they might get started.

Besides fame and fortune, the article gives Marci a unique endorsement of her accomplishments as she applies to colleges. Creativity and entrepreneurial skills are not measured by SAT scores, and this helps show where some of Marci’s talents live. 

Marci turned 17 on May 20, and was published in Seventeen on May 29th. I hope that her year brings more happiness and success, and you must know how proud I am to watch this beautiful flower of a girl unfold.

3 new dresses

My daughter can now drive; she has her own Etsy store, and has done rather well. I want her to save some for college and also have the experience of being in charge of her own money. So, for the first time, Marci drove herself downtown to shop the small independent stores on Lexington Ave, and bought 3 new dresses with her own money, and without me to help her choose. I like them all! I like that she is choosing independent designers selling in small Indie shops, and I really like the hand crochet on the 3rd dress, which is her favorite. It's a new kind of moment for me, I mean, it's one thing to pass along your genes, but to see that I've helped nurture my daughter's talent, helped her start her own creative business, and really enjoy her sense of style, too- that's a lot to be thankful for! Dress #2, the one with the pockets, that's just so cute. I like that she'll still humor mom with the posed pictures, too.

Make a Wish!

My baby girl turned 16 yesterday. Her party is Saturday, and we had a family celebration last night. Being the perpetual craftster, I made her a card but really did not like any 'Sweet 16' poems that I found online, so I wrote this for her. It's not great literature or anything, but I thought I'd share it and if any of you want to use it, please drop a comment here. Otherwise, just tell me where the last 16 years went- it seems like maybe 2 years ago when she went to first grade.

Make a wish! And keep on wishing
For whatever sweet sixteen dreams can bring
Reach for the keys, freedom, and friends
Sing the song you were born to sing!

Today your journey as a young woman begins
You've grown more beautiful every day
You don't need my hand but I'm still in the stands
Cheering you on all the way!

When I look at her

My daughter is coming home today from a trip to Disney with her school band. This is a cameraphone picture carelessly snapped before she left, and filed in a folder she's marked 'Random', and that is so perfect. There is such a crazy joy in her that I feel, in looking at any random moment, like I'm looking through a thin veil, and behind it, just beyond the gauze of prettiness and youth, is the wonder of a Universe, a Creator, most pleased with itself. She has had this unreasonable transcendent laughter, merriment, joi de vivre, since she made her entrance into this world, and my hope, my prayer, my heartbeat's afirmation, is that this quality stays with her, no matter what else comes or goes.