Happy Friday y'all! I'm so excited to introduce you to Angela, shop owner of Little Ones Love. I actually have one of these travel high chairs that you have a chance to win today. I got it for my sister-in-law's baby shower coming up. Be sure to read more about Angela then enter in the Rafflecopter giveaway below to win your own travel high chair.
Tell us about yourself. My name is Angela Kroeger. I live just outside Kansas City. I am married to my wonderful husband and have two children. My son is 2 and my daughter just turned 7 months. How did you get started in your craft and selling on Etsy?
I have always liked sewing and making birthday and Christmas presents for my friends and family. My items were always requested and everyone kept telling me I should sell them. Finally, I got enough courage to start my shop... the month before my daughter was born! Crazy right? But I really do love it and Etsy's so much fun!
What is your favorite item in your shop & why?
I really love the newborn baby gowns... but the baby dresses are adorable too since I have an in-house model! Do you have a job outside of Etsy?
Yes, I teach Kindergarten full time. It's exhausting but very rewarding!
Would ya look at that! I was whining on Tuesday about it only being Tuesday and here we are...it's Friday! Who's ready for a giveaway?
Surayya is giving away 5 sewing patterns from her shop Thread Couture! I totally wish I could sew...these patterns are super cute! Go and see for yourself...you will love them too. You just might even win! Learn more about Surayya then enter below via the Rafflecopter form. Good luck!
Tell us about yourself.
I am Surayya, stay-at-home mom of three, a part time math tutor and a very enthusiastic designer. Still a little girl at heart, I love making girly clothes. Being a mom, I try hard to squeeze in a few hours from my hectic life to sew clothes for my two pre-teen girls. I find sewing very relaxing and the best way to unwind after a busy day. Juggling different roles is the destiny of all women and sewing is my way of staying sane in the midst of all the chaos. If you don’t indulge in any craft or hobby, I seriously advise you do. It can add to your well being and make you more content with your life.
I just sew what comes in my mind and thank God, my work has always been appreciated by people around me. Apart from sewing for my girls, I love gifting my friends' and relatives' kids with my creations. I thrive on the feedback I get from others and am excited to share my blog, BlissfulSewing and my shop with everybody who loves to sew.
What is one thing {not person} you can not live without? My sewing machine.
What is your guilty pleasure? I cannot help hoarding fabric whenever I see one I love. What is your favorite item from your shop?
Happy Friday! It was a rough week with hubby working in MD while I was back here sick and alone! Thankfully it only lasted a day and a half and I am back to normal now!
Lets all welcome Kim from Karnival of Krafts. She has lots of different items in her shop from jewelry to paper crafts to crochet. You're sure to find something that fits your style there. Learn more about Kim & her shop then enter in to win a $20 shop credit via the Rafflecopter form below. Good luck!
Tell us about yourself. Hi! I’m Kim. My husband and I have been married for almost 34 years. We have 2 grown sons but no daughter-in-laws yet. Hubby and I live in Indiana but our boys live in Florida which is where I would love to live. I want to be closer to them but I love the ocean and the beach. So visiting them is a double pleasure.
How did you get started in your craft and selling on Etsy?
What is your favorite item in your shop & why? Right now I have to say, my favorite item in my shop are the baby hat and mittens sets. There is just something about creating these tiny little items for a new life that just makes my heart sing. I also have to admit that my favorite creations change from time to time when I find a new pattern or craft.
Do you have a job outside of Etsy?
I don’t have a job outside of Etsy right now. I have spent most of my adult life working in a family business which currently doesn’t require much of my time anymore. I would like to find a part-time or seasonal job but just have not found the right fit yet.
What is one thing{NOT person}you can not live without?
My morning cup of tea. I’m not sure that I can think straight without it. LOL
What is your guilty pleasure?
My guilty pleasure has to be chocolate but then that is a guilty pleasure for most of us isn’t it.
Woo hoo! Happy Friday y'all! We are having an Easter Egg Coloring Party today! I can't wait for the kiddos to make a mess and have some fun while us grown ups chow down on some yummy food, thanks to Pinterest!
Lets all welcome Emilynne of Studio Lemyx! She's offering up one lucky winner a set of two pearl bows {green & purple}. They are so cute, as is everything in her shop! Be sure to have a look around. I bet you will find lots to love! Once you are done browsing Studio Lemyx and reading about Emilynne you can enter the giveaway using the Rafflecopter form below. Good luck!
Tell us about yourself.
I'm Emilynne--graphic designer by day, crafter by night. I currently reside in Washington, D.C. but I originally hail from Japan.
How did you get started in your craft and selling on Etsy?
I've always loved making things ever since I was young. I was the type of kid who didn't need toys--I just had a bunch of cardboard boxes, paper, and tape, and I would make the strangest things to play with. As an art major, I decided to pursue Graphic Design because it felt like the most "practical" art major at the time. Don't get me wrong--I love it, but I also still needed another (different) creative outlet. Remembering my childhood, I picked up some polymer clay and made a few things that people complemented me on, but I thought nothing of it. At the time, it was just a hobby. Fast forward to the future, and here I am, fresh out of university, not really sure what to do with my life. Still doing a lot of freelance graphic design, but sometimes it doesn't feel creative and hands-on enough. Cue crazy idea to sell things online. :)
What is your favorite item in your shop & why?
My favorite items are my felt bows, for sure! Not trying to toot my own horn, but I think they're so cute and I had a lot of fun making them!
Do you have a job outside of Etsy?
I'm a freelance graphic designer.
What is onething{NOT person} you can not live without?
Body lotion. When my skin gets all cracked, rough, and dry, I can't think straight!
What is your guilty pleasure?
Haagen Daz ice cream. Sooooo bad for your body, but sooooo good for your soul. Haha!
Tell us a joke.
What do you call cheese that doesn't belong to you? Nacho (Not yo) cheese!
Hooray for Fridays! Today we have Christine from a cute little shop, Belly Bear Baby Gear. She's offering up one of her adorable scrap monsters custom made just for you! Learn more about Christine then enter to win your own little monster using the rafflecopter form below.
Tell us about yourself.
My name is Christine and I live in western Massachusetts with my 16 month old twins, Sean and Isabel and my husband Eric. Beyond my most important job as mom of Sean and Isabel I have also been a preschool teacher for the past ten years. My teaching experiences have been a wonderful asset to me as a new mom.
How did you get started in your craft and selling on Etsy? My love of crafting began with the birth of my children. My mother got me a sewing machine and taught me the basics of sewing. Once I made my first pair of upcycled soft soled baby shoes for my children, I was addicted. Friends and family encouraged me to open an Etsy shop because even though I had two babies, they could not possibly wear all of the booties I was creating out of enjoyment.
What is your favorite item in your shop & why? My favorite item in my Etsy shop has to be my scrap monsters. They are my latest upcycled innovation and I just find them so funny looking that they're cute. Beyond that children of all ages enjoy snuggling and playing with them. Each one is an individual so your child is truly getting something unique.
Do you have a job outside of Etsy? I am a preschool teacher and mother to my 16 month old twins. Teaching has been a passion of mine that came to me completely by accident, but I could not imagine having any other career. The joy of watching the children in my care grow and learn is all the thanks I need.
What is one thing {NOT person} you can not live without? A wonderfully unique necklace my husband got me as a gift for the birth of our twins Isabel and Sean. It is a hand dipped bronzed pea pod holding 2 freshwater pearls, two peas in a pod. Wearing it each day helps keep my children close to me even when we are apart.
What is your guilty pleasure? Obsessively checking my smart phone.
Tell us a joke. Not a joke but funny story. While out on the playground with a group of 4 year olds, one of them noticed a red tailed hawk flying around and screeching. Another child asked, "Why is it screaming"? The first child then explained in all seriousness, "It must be a teenager". Not sure if this fits the bill, but it always makes me chuckle.
Enter to win your very own custom scrap monster!
{Want to make a purchase now? Just use code GIVEAWAYto receive free shipping and be sure to include your transaction number in the rafflecopter form for loads more entries!}
Have you all seen the Buy Handmade Easter Shopping Guide? There are lots of great items for Easter over there so you should check them out. Here are some of my faves:
Happy Friday y'all! The weather is getting nicer...and so is my mood! I have to say I have been a bit of a grouch at home since the whole lack of sleep thing but it's getting better and this spring like weather is picking up my spirits too!
For today's giveaway we have Misty from Bee's Knees. She is also sponsoring Tutus & Tea Parties this month! Yay! {go on, have a look at the left side bar...see her over there?} She was also generous enough to sponsor a giveaway too! I just love her shop and I know you will too. Enter in the giveaway using the rafflecopter form below but be sure to read more about Misty first.
{Recognise this banner? Misty is also a sponsor this month! Be sure to thank her.}
Tell us about yourself.
Hello! My name is Misty. I've been married to my best friend, Trinton, for 8 years and we have a 19 month old Crazy little boy, Izzac. We love to laugh and play as a family. We work hard all week and spend every second we can together on the weekends.
I have always loved art and design since I can remember, which lead me to receive a bachelors in Graphic Design. What I do is more than a job, it is part of my life. I see design and inspiration everywhere. I can't help it. I also love art. I love to paint, draw, do paper crafts, and I have even tried sewing and crocheting (though I'm not very good at either haha).
How did you get started in your craft and selling on Etsy?
I started on etsy in July of last year. I was designing all of these Monkey Themed items (invitation, banners, cupcake toppers etc.) for my son's first birthday party and decided to see if I could sell them on etsy. The rest is history. It has been a lot of fun!
I do have a job outside of Etsy. I am an in-house designer for a company named Ringmasters (www.shopringmasters.com). I design Jewelry and gift items as well as catalogs, packaging, and whatever else they need. I love my job. Before that I designed scrapbook supplies for BoBunny Press, also fun. I also have been doing freelance design for small businesses. I love Graphic Design in all its many forms.
What is one thing {NOT person} you can not live without?
This is a hard question...I would probably have to say my ipod. I'm an audiobook junkie, and I love to rock out while I'm designing. I love 80's and 90's Rock.
What is your guilty pleasure?
My guilty pleasure? Oh there are so many. Of course there is the traditional Chocolate or food route, but I also have a secret love for Justin Timberlake's music. My husband hates it LOL. I also love a good chic lit book when I find the time.
Tell us a joke.
Why did the lettuce blush? Because it saw the Ranch Dressing BAHAHAHAHA
Enter to win a Printable Wall Art Silhouette created from your photo and customized wording!
{Can't wait to shop? Use code facebookfan for 20% off your purchase. It will also give you 25 entries so be sure to use the form if you purchase.}
Phew! It's Friday! This week felt extra long to me. Maybe it's from the lack of sleep/rest since Bug doesn't believe in sleeping anymore. All these late nights of struggling are getting to me now. I feel like I'm becoming stupider each day I don't sleep. I thought complete exhaustion was over after she first slept through the night as a baby. Nope!
Here's something to brighten the day, a great giveaway from Adriana's Accessories! Enter using the Rafflecopter form below but first lets learn more about Adriana and her shop:
Tell us about yourself.
My name is Adriana , I am 29 years old married and have my son who is 10 months old and my love !! I am from Staten Island NY .
How did you get started in your craft and selling on Etsy?
One day back in 2003 my friend bought this Swarovski crystal name bracelet at a local hair salon that this woman was making and selling for almost $200 . I looked at it and told her she was crazy and I thought to myself why do people have to get ripped off for quality work and started making my own jewelry but not really selling it . Then people took notice. My mother would wear a piece to her school where she worked, I would wear my pieces to parties etc and everyone would ask me where I got it so I figured lets give it a shot. I rented a spot in a hair salon near home and boom it took off. I was selling like crazy and having home parties, craft fairs you name it I sold there lol !! Then I got engaged to the man of my dreams and was planning a wedding and buying a home so the jewelry line was not #1 any more after that. We planned to have a baby right away and the jewelry stuff was packed in the attack and I had no time what so ever to do it. Recently I went to a Medium party where this woman did readings etc. I was skeptical but what the hey, it was all in good fun right ! Well she was GREAT !!! Spot on she looked at me and told me what I do for a living is fine but its not my passion its not what I love to do !! And by the time I am 30 I will figure out and work on my passion and make it a part of my life .. LIGHT BULB! What do I miss doing the most in my life and would spend hours upon hours creating and researching and talking about?!! My jewelry, my passion !! Now I am back into gear with it and hoping for it to take off again the way it was when I started and then some .
What is your favorite item in your shop & why?
My favorite item in my shop right now is Antique Squares bracelet . It is such a stunning piece its big and chunky yet simple and elegant.I love the "old" looking components with the Crystal Clear square beads it goes with everything !
Do you have a job outside of Etsy?
Yes I work for a family business in the Import/Export field 3 days a week in office and 2 from home . But I am also a full time mommy and wife which is the best job!
What is one thing {NOT person} you can not live without?
Right now my Leggings LOL After gaining the baby weight and while preggo those things have been the best thing to come back from the 80s .Even though I finally lost most of the weight I still rather have them on then squeeze into jeans!!
What is your guilty pleasure?
The Real Housewives of Anywhere shows on Bravo - I cannot get enough of all the "drama" these women have in there lives. I love it!
Tell us a joke.
I made this one up and my little cousin would crack up - What did the Boy chimney say to the girl chimney - Your Smoooooookin!
Enter below for a chance to win a mommy & me bracelet set in your color choices!
{use coupon code TUTU1 for free shipping on any purchase.}
Happy Friday! Today's giveaway is from Lizz, Etsy shop owner of Sleep Sweetly. Get to know Lizz then enter in the rafflecopter giveaway below. Good luck!
Tell us about yourself.
My name is Lizz. I have been married for 7 years, but unfortunately do not have any children yet, due to medical issues. I live in California, and I love to travel and be inspired.
How did you get started in your craft and selling on Etsy?
I started my craft for a few reasons. My husband and I have been struggling through infertility for over 4 years now. In the beginning I needed something to help me be hopeful and look toward the future. After the first year we decided that we didn't know when we would have our own child in our home, but we wanted to be prepared. I began designing and creating a room for our future child. We picked out fabrics that would be perfect for a boy or girl. We began designing the little details that we would add later, blue polka dots if we had a boy, or bright orange flowers if we had a girl. I designed, cut, created, sewed, and placed every little detail n the room. Blankets, crib sheets, bumpers, diaper stackers, woobys, quilts, burp cloths, washcloths... You name it I made it.
After some time I developed an AMAZING friendship with one of our neighbors. We both had a huge love for kids and moms. We also both struggled with infertility. We loved shopping for gift for our friends who were becoming mothers, but we could never find just what we wanted. We decided that we both have enough creativity in our blood that we should try our hand at designing our own line of baby items.
We decided that our love for children should reach beyond our own. We use sewing and creating as a way to love on others.
Although I still don't have a child of my own to snuggle up in the blankets and other lovely things I create, I know other children out there would love it just as much.Etsy.com is a fantastic place for me to sell the handmade, with love, items I create. I am so excited that I have been able to help children and moms feel loved and cozy all around the world.
What is your favorite item in your shop and why?
I honestly can't decide!! But if i have to... I will choose my top 2 !
My favorites are my cute little birdies, and my woobys. I think the little birdies are just stinking adorable, and when I look at the wooby I think of my niece and her little wooby she never leaves the house without.
I sure do. Two of them! I work part time at our church (thewellcommunity.org) as a Kids Connection Coordinator. Basically, I work with the leaders who teach the elementary sunday school classes. I help them work with curriculum, activities, and all other aspects of their classroom. I was a full-time public school teacher, but stepped down so I could love and support other teachers in the public schools and at churches. As a part of supporting teachers, I also substitute teach whenever I am needed.
What is one thing {NOT person} you can not live without?
Chocolate of course!! I am an avid chocolate eater, drinker, maker, lover, and craver.
What is your guilty pleasure?
Watching silly dramatic TV shows. I just love sitting home alone and watching a show I know my husband would not only never watch, but would also laugh at me for watching.
Tell us a joke.
I don't know any jokes... but I do have a silly story!! (you get a lot as a teacher)
A student of mine (in Middle School) came up to me the other day and asked if I had "one of those stretchy things that you can put around paper". I asked "Do you mean a rubber band, like this?" and showed her a rubber band. Her response was, "I don't know, but I do need one of those things your holding."What has the world come to when kids don't know what a rubber band is called??
Happy Friday! {sorry this post is a little late...we were up with Bug 'til almost 2am last night!}
Today we have another great giveaway! Lets welcome Nicky from We Three Bees. She is giving you all a chance to win a custom made fleece hat from her shop {valued at $16}. I hope you will get to know her first, then fill out the rafflecopter form below to enter.
Tell us about yourself. I'm wicked lucky. My name is Nicky and I'm a 28 year old stay at home mom with two sweet boys, Jack and Dexter and an adoring husband, Ben. We live in a very small town in central New York, near Lake Ontario so we spend a lot of time by the water in the warmer months. Our two golden retrievers, Odin and Ludo, love the water too! I'm inspired by nature and the bond that exists between a parent and child.
How did you get started in your craft and selling on Etsy? I became enthusiastic about sewing when I was pregnant with my first son- I was frustrated at the lack of cute things for boys so I decided to make my own blankets and clothes! Take THAT mainstream retail! This is why I focus so heavily on items for boys. Sewing was always intriguing to me but I never thought I could do it because it always seemed so complicated. My mother-in-law actually is a great seamstress and she got me started by giving me fabric and her old sewing machine to play around with. When my sister-in-law told me about Etsy, I looked into it and was hooked!
What is your favorite item in your shop & why? It's hard for me to pick a favorite because they're all so personal. I really do fall in love with each piece, especially the ones for boys. If I had to pick, I'd say the Fur Bomber Hat in green and cream plaid. It has a grown up look only miniaturized! For some reason, this combination of adult fabrics made for children gets me every time! It's a little piece of luxury for that special little man in your life. Do you have a job outside of Etsy? You mean other than changing diapers, cooking meals, getting everyone to stay on routine and trying to get chores done while constantly trying to think of new ways to make everything more efficient? I guess not :) I don't know how these super moms do it?!?
What is one thing you can not live without? It's really a group effort but I turn into a super cranky lady if I don't get my sleep!
What is your guilty pleasure? Twinkies and really bad reality TV... I know, shame on me (but you're secretly wanting a twinkie right now, aren't you?).
Tell us a joke {if you know one}. A horse walks into a bar and the bartender says, "Why the long face?" I only just got this a couple years ago. I kept waiting for the rest of the joke! I'm generally not an idiot so I just have had a really big brain fart or something.
Nicky is giving you a chance to win any ready to ship or special order hat in any style {earflap, bomber or pixie} valued at $16!
Contest closes 3/9/12 at midnight. Open worldwide.
It's Friday! Hooray! This is an awesome Friday because we are back with a giveaway for you all. How fun! Lets welcome Kelly of Green Jazz Face. She makes gorgeous party banners {among some other things} so be sure to check out her shop then enter in the giveaway with the Rafflecopter form below.
Tell us about yourself.
I'm Kelly and I'm from Texas! I have three wild dogs and a husband, all boys....enough said. I think my twitter tag line sums me up: very left handed, extremely right brained, and addicted to crafting!
How did you get started in your craft and selling on Etsy?
I seem to have lots friends getting married, having babies, or taking pictures of people getting married! I started making banners for fun to add to these important celebrations! I got enough compliments that I decided to try and make some money with it! I opened my shop at the beginning of December, and am very pleased with my shop's performance. I love it.
What is your favorite item in your shop & why?
My favorite item is my St. Patrick's Day green burlap banner. I love it because I got the idea from a cookie cutter when I was walking through a craft store. I just love when my ideas come together. Believe me, they don't always.
Do you have a job outside of Etsy?
Outside of Etsy, I'm a Speech Language Pathologist. I work with the pediatric population in a home health setting. I treat children who have articulation, language, and feeding disorders. Many of my patients are diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder. I love my day job, but I also love my crafting.
What is one thing {NOT person} you can not live without?
CANDY!!!! It's a problem. I should probably work on that.
What is your guilty pleasure?
CANDY!!!!
Tell us a joke {if you know one- PG rated please}.
Tell us about yourself. Hello! I'm Cameron from Homemade. I'm pretty new to the blogging world, but I am having a great time meeting new people - bloggers are such a terrific bunch! I love to create . . . just about anything. I sew, knit, crochet, paper craft, have a kiln that needs to be hooked up and a pottery wheel that needs to be dusted off. My two kids keep me grounded and remind me of what is MOST important in life, and my husband may be the most patient man on Earth. In between all this I work nights as an emergency room nurse. Sounds exciting, right? It is - I love my life, and I love blogging about the fun stuff I make, and hot tips I find, and occasionally personal stuff . . .
I'm very excited to be able to give away one of my fun homemade items - enjoy!
How did you get started in your craft and selling on Etsy?
I've pretty much been crafting as long as I can remember - I've always loved trying to make something I'd seen while shopping. I taught myself to knit and then crochet after my kids were born and pottery (my first love!) was no longer a feasible hobby. Alas, I am a bit of a crafting crazy, so I also sew, write patterns, create home decor in a variety of ways, and enjoy paper crafting! Whenever I get bored with something, I just move on to another one of my passions. Having kids has opened up a whole new world of fun project to do with little ones, and I hope I'm sharing my creative spirit with my little ones.
What is your favorite item in your shop & why?
It's so hard to pick - I love all my creations, so much so that sometimes it's hard to part with them! But, I'd have to say it is a tie between my crocheted clutches and the few items of pottery I have left. I'm a sucker for a clutch, and I think the crocheted exterior is such a cool feel and texture. And pottery has been my favorite craft all along - it's just not very kid-friendly! Hopefully, this spring I'll get back into it and get the kiln wired up & fired up again!
Do you have a job outside of Etsy?
I actually have two jobs - I work PRN (as needed) as both an emergency room nurse and a transfer center nurse. It keeps me busy and often reminds me just how blessed I am to be healthy, happy, and loved.
What is one thing {NOT person} you can not live without?
Hmmm...this is a hard one! At first I thought of my sewing machine, but in a pinch I really could hand sew. I think I'm going to have to say my computer - the internet has brought such growth to the homemade/handmade world - you are no longer limited by proximity! I was talking with someone in New Zealand and British Columbia today - how amazing is that? I used to go to shows for my pottery - but the travel and time had a pretty low return - Etsy is such a wonderful innovation for helping crafters get a better return on our investment.
What is your guilty pleasure?
Reading books - I kind of get lost in them, as in: all other areas of my life are neglected! So, I don't often read anymore now that I have kids, except on vacation, when I read a book a day. My favorite kinds of books are murder mysteries!
Tell us a joke.
Lucky for you, I've been opening Christmas poppers, which are just chock full of great, G-rated jokes! So here's one for you: Why would Snow White make such a good judge? Because she's the fairest of them all. Ha ha ha, ooh, that was a doozy.
Enter using the Rafflecopter form below to win this
