We figured we'd end our Stitch Preview series by interviewing Matthew Stinchcomb, who does PR for Etsy. We learned that the online store is kind of a big deal in the DIY world. Several Stitch vendors sell their homemade wares on the site so it'll be a treat to meet the entrepreneurs in person. It'll kind of be like when Marvel collectors meet Stan Lee at Comic-Con... Maybe.

How and when did Etsy begin and how has it grown? Are there any other sites out there similar to yours? How many artists and designers does Etsy represent?

Etsy was conceived by Rob Kalin in early 2005. A painter, carpenter, and photographer, Rob found there was no viable marketplace to exhibit and sell his creations online; Ebay having become too inundated with fraud, overstock electronics, and broken appliances. Ever industrious, he, along with Chris Maguire and Haim Scoppik, designed the site, wrote the code, assembled the servers, spliced the cables, and launched Etsy on June 18th, 2005 after only three sleepless months.

Now, at age two, Etsy has approximately 550,000 registered users, 70,000 of whom are individual artists selling more than 800,000 of their handmade creations.

Did you ever make your own crafts?

I am a musician, a photographer, a graphic designer, and a screenprinter. In fact, before Etsy, Rob Kalin and I had a screenprinting and design business.

What can we expect at your booth?

Lots of awesome handmade swag and my smiling face.

Is this your first year at Stitch?

Yes, indeed, I am very thrilled. I am a big fan of Jennifer P. and am excited to see so many Etsy sellers assembled in one place.