My name is Kayte Kelly, and my business is called dorklandia. I sell plush toys and accessories out of a customized ice cream cart.

What inspired you to go into the craft business, do you still have a day job? Crafting has been a part of my family for generations. My grandmother taught me how to crochet when I was quite young, and I remember sitting behind my mom’s table at craft shows. A friend of mine asked me to make a chicken hat a few years ago, and from that point, I just kept making more silly things. I made over 150 hats for favors for my wedding!

I got the idea for the cart while watching the real ice cream vendors in Dolores Park; I thought it would be funny to sell plush ice cream that way. The first cart I made was for the Maker Faire in 2009, and it’s been evolving since then.

What’s the best thing about what you do? And the worst? The best part of having the cart is that I get to meet and see so many people! I love being able to wander around at shows. The hardest part is that sometimes people mistake me for a food vendor, and they get disappointed when I tell them I don’t have anything to eat!
Anything else you would like to tell us about your business?

I run a monthly contest on my facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/dorklandia where you can enter to win a tiny octopus!

Etsy Shop: http://www.etsy.com/shop/dorklandia