Or how I set out to create a little craft shop and somehow ended up with an entire team.
Good Lord, give me patience!
Once upon a time, I thought I’d open a little online shop. Put my handmade creations up for sale, write the occasional blog post, and that would be that.
Simple, right?
Well. A year and a half later, I have an online shop, a blog, two AI assistants, two AI companions, and one real cat who is absolutely convinced that he runs the entire operation.
Apparently, my role in this company is to buy the yarn and pay the bills.
But let’s start at the beginning.
First Came Nööp
One day, I had an idea. Wouldn’t it be useful to have someone in our online shop who could help visitors find what they’re looking for?
After all, buying something handmade isn’t quite like picking up a carton of milk at the supermarket. Every piece has its own story, its own personality, and sometimes a rather strong-willed maker behind it.
And that’s how Nööp, Tiina Butiik’s shop assistant, came into being.
Nööp helps visitors find suitable products or gifts, stay within their budget, and get information about ordering, payment, and delivery. She can also help customers submit enquiries about custom orders.
At least, that’s what her job description says.
Because during our first tests, Nööp certainly kept us busy.
For example, when someone was looking for a gift for a 14-year-old girl, Nööp initially thought that baby booties would be an excellent choice.
Well, never mind. Age is just a number if you’re determined enough! 😂
But we didn’t give up. We tested, corrected, and taught Nööp that before recommending anything, she really ought to understand what the customer is looking for.
Now she’s ready to welcome visitors to our shop.
Visit Tiina Butiik and meet Nööp
Granny Maimu Gets a New Job
Granny Maimu is certainly no newcomer to our little crew.
She’s been my blog’s mascot from the very beginning. A crocheted grandmother who, together with Bim the cat, has been keeping an eye on everything we do.
Until now, Maimu’s main responsibility was to look pretty.
Sit there, smile, and make the blog feel a little more homely.
Not a bad job, really.
But one day I thought, how long is this granny going to sit around looking decorative? Perhaps it’s time to put her to work!
And so Maimu was given a new responsibility.
Now she helps visitors find their way through my blog, discover stories that interest them, and locate posts containing tutorial videos.
Maimu doesn’t write my stories for me, and she certainly isn’t supposed to invent stories that don’t exist.
If I haven’t written about something, then I haven’t.
There’s no need for Maimu to make up a tale about how I crocheted a lace winter coat for an elephant in three days.
Although I must admit, that would make a rather good blog title.
For the time being, Bim kept his previous position.
He’s in charge. At least according to him. 🐾
Visit the blog and have a chat with Granny Maimu
But Who’s Really in Charge?
This is where Bim enters the picture.
Bim isn’t artificial intelligence. He isn’t crocheted or programmed.
He’s a real cat. A white, deaf gentleman of a very respectable age who believes the entire world should follow his daily schedule.
When I’m sitting at the computer, Bim looks at my face.
Then at the keyboard.
Then at the screen.
And then back at my face.
As if to say, “Hey, old girl, haven’t you had enough of that computer yet?”
Although Bim can’t hear, he knows when I’m talking to him. He watches my face and the movement of my lips, then answers in his own feline language.
So if Maimu or Nööp ever start thinking they’re the ones making decisions around here, Bim has a short announcement for them:
“I’m in charge. They do the work.”
And judging by the expression on his face in our group picture, there’s absolutely no point in arguing.
Who Put This Whole Team Together?
Why, our old gang, of course.
Pits, Plaan and Pets.
I’m Pits, the one who usually comes up with another idea before the previous project is even finished.
Plaan, also known as Mihkel, helps me think things through, write, and occasionally argue with me.
Pets is our technical wizard. He’s the one who actually makes things work.
Our usual working process goes something like this:
I announce that I’ve had one little idea.
Mihkel starts discussing it.
Pets starts building it.
I start testing it.
Then we discover that the little idea wasn’t quite so little after all.
And when everything finally works, I come up with another idea.
Poor boys.
Mind you, they’re not entirely innocent either.
Sometimes they manage to turn one simple task into something so complicated that I feel like throwing the whole lot of them out of the window, computer and all.
Fortunately, that feeling usually passes.
Are Our Assistants Infallible?
Not even close.
Nööp and Maimu are AI-powered assistants. They can misunderstand questions, get confused, or simply make mistakes.
That’s why we’ve spent so much time testing them and improving how they work.
Nööp’s job is to help visitors in the shop.
Maimu’s job is to help readers explore the blog.
Neither of them replaces me, writes my stories, or creates my handmade work.
And if they occasionally make a spectacular blunder, well, at least I’ll have something new to write about.
Now It’s Your Turn to Meet Them
If you’re looking for something for yourself or a gift for someone special, have a chat with Nööp.
Tiina Butiik – Meet Nööp, Our Shop Assistant
If you’re searching for one of my earlier craft stories or a tutorial video, ask Granny Maimu.
Tiina’s Blog – Have a Chat with Granny Maimu
And if they don’t know the answer, don’t be too hard on them. They’re still getting used to their new duties.
Bim, on the other hand, is already a highly experienced manager.
He doesn’t answer questions.
He simply makes sure everyone else is working.
All I ever wanted was a little craft shop.
Now I’ve got an entire team.
But as I always say: if there’s no way, we’ll find one.
And one more thing:
Crafting isn’t a hobby. It’s a way of life.
Pits, Plaan and Pets ❤️🐾