The Homefront Team, on the popular craft marketplace Etsy.com, began in 2007 as a way for the spouses and significant others of members of the U.S. military, whether active duty, retirees or veterans, to express themselves artistically and contribute financially to their families, despite a mobile, military lifestyle.

"I've been part of the Homefront Team since May of 2008, and I have to say it has been far more friendship and support, both business wise and personal, than I ever dreamed," said Deb Ragsdale, who has been the team captain since this past July. Ragsdale, who is married to a Navy submariner, runs her own shop called LilacAve which features hand poured soy candles, as well as natural bath and body products made from only American products.

At last count, the Etsy Homefront Team had 269 members, each with their own shop selling either vintage wares or homemade crafts.

"We all have a common thread," stated Ragsdale. "So not only can we share creative ideas, but we can give advice to spouses dealing with a deployment, or other issues. Most of us have ‘been there, done that' at some point, so we understand."

"When I first started working on the military buttons my husband was TDY for six months and I wanted to be able to keep something of his close to me," explained Homefront Team member and Army wife Christina Lengele. "I had been making beaded jewelry for years ... so it just kind of fell into place. When friends saw my bracelet they would ask if I could make them one using their husband's buttons."

Lengele, whose husband is currently stationed in Germany with the 2nd Stryker Cavalry Regiment, has seen her business (she sells under CandJjewelry) grow dramatically over the past four years, especially once she started working with all the branches.

"I have had an Air Force wife in Italy send me over 200 Air Force buttons, and a Marine wife in North Carolina send me over a 100 Marine buttons. I love that I can use actual buttons from each branch," Lengele said.

For many wives, the value of selling on a site like Etsy, with a group like Homefront, is intangible. Being able to create a small business that provides you with some income, the ability to do it from where ever you may be stationed in the world and the flexibility of making your own schedule may actually be considered priceless by many military spouses.

"I have met some of the most amazing people through making these pieces. I love it because no matter where we move, it will always be there to keep me busy," Lengele concluded.

To support these military spouses and more, simply log onto www.Etsy.com and enter ‘Homefront Team' into the search bar. All of the artists and crafters on Homefront ship anywhere in the U.S. and many will ship internationally and to APO addresses.