Etsy Pets: Butter and the Gang

Today's Etsy Pets is taking on a little different format, because Sara of Shy Siren doesn't have just one or two furry or feathered friends, but a backyard pond full of scaled ones! And plenty of other little wetland related companions. I'll let her take it from here…

I have about 22 koi fish in a pond which takes up about 1/2 of our tiny backyard. I can tell you the names of the first two generations of koi (born in 2006 and 2007), but after that, well, the babies are quite small and tend to look too similar to actually name!

We created our pond four summers ago as a result of a water draining issue in our backyard—that puddle of water inspired us to replace it with a pond. We started with 7 koi. By the following summer, we gained 4 more babies.

We actually had reconstruct and enlarge the pond after just two years — a batch of new koi babies were born (12!) and we couldn't face the possibility of giving them away. So, we built them a bigger home! I don't know what we'll do if there are more babies this year (I am sure there will be...). I guess we'll have to get rid of the garage.



Butter is one of our favorite koi. Seriously, I know it's hard to imagine that a fish could have a personality, but Butter is definitely different from the rest of the fish. She will be the first at the feeding and eagerly awaits with her huge fish lips. She actually stands vertically in the water. None of the other fish display this odd behavior.

If your pets could help with your shop, what would their job be?
Therapist, definitely. Without opposable thumbs, their job qualifications are limited, but they remind me not to take everything so seriously. The koi are so peaceful, so graceful and so beautiful—each and every one individuality. But the best part is that they make us laugh. And they prove that sometimes all problems can be solved with a little snack.

Where do you and your pond dwellers call home?
I am currently living in Charlotte, North Carolina. I live in a suburban neighborhood, which startles me every time I hear myself say that. I lived in NYC for over 10 years before moving to Charlotte. We left NYC at the height of the real estate boom. It was a huge adjustment. I had to actually buy a car. I would still call NYC “home” — even after all these years. Sometimes I still get confused which city I'm flying out of when I'm making flight reservations.

Tell us about your shop, Shy Siren
I swear, working on Shy Siren is the best job in the world. It's not a job. It's not even work. Most of the time it's play. Well, serious, time-consuming, a-thousand-hats kind of play — but play all the same. I've been working on growing Shy Siren since 2003. For the first three years, sales were just enough to keep it a great side-gig. It wasn't until I moved to Charlotte, where I had more physical space and a lower cost of living that I was able to do more with Shy Siren.

For the past 12 years, I have also run a small web design studio, Four Eyes, with my husband Michael. Because of this, I don't really have that goal/opportunity to “quit my day job” — nit's not really an option since I still play an important role in managing Four Eyes. In the past few years, I've been able to more successfully (thanks to the economy!) split my time more evenly between Four Eyes and Shy Siren. That additional time to focus on Shy Siren has really allowed it to blossom—if not just out of necessity. I love every day that I can work on Shy Siren. The days go by far too quickly. If I had more hours in the day, I'd probably still use them to work on Shy Siren. Ok, or maybe a yoga class.

Tell us about your first pet
As a young child, we had a dog, but I don't have many memories of her. We also had two large iguanas. And lots and lots of birds. We had an African grey parrot who was incredible at mimicking household sounds, like milk being poured out of a jug, the squeak on the toilet seat, and light switches being turned on.

What animal does your personality most resemble and why?
I most likely resemble a chipmunk. I'm a hoarder and not too presumptuous in stature. I'm also a little spastic and always running around doing something.

What is the best thing about being a pet parent?
The greatest joy isn't actually about the koi specifically. The most rewarding part about keeping the koi is the pond itself. Not only is the pond an incredible visual and auditory joy for us, but it has provided an environment — a home — to so many creatures in addition to the koi. There are toads, frogs, dragonflies, snails, anoles and insects that call our backyard home. I love to think about all the teeny, tiny beating hearts that are living, breathing, just being in our backyard. That gives me some solace.

You can keep up with Sara, her work and all her backyard friends by visiting her on Facebook and Twitter.

SPECIAL SHY SIREN DISCOUNT!

In addition to opening up her backyard to us, Sara is offering a 15% discount on all purchases at Shy Siren through October 31 when you use discount code lillyella at checkout. Ain't she sweet?

Thanks so much, Sara! If you have an Etsy Pet you'd like everyone to meet, send me a message, blog@lillyella.com.

Click here to meet more Etsy Pets!