Monday, September 14, 2009

Hall of Fame {Lynsey & Harper Confections}

Happy Monday everyone! You're in for a mouth-watering treat today. For the first time, this week's interview features a lovely little shop that is sure to tickle your taste buds.

Meet Brienne, the talented baker behind Lynsey & Harper Confections.

Brienne Lynsey, and her partner Tevye Harper, are the creative duo behind the shop, which in Brienne's words was, "Created from brilliant minds over a glass of wine under a starry sky."

Read the interview below as Brienne divulges a bit about herself. After all, "Cookies are always better shared!"

What inspires you?
People with passion. There is nothing like someone who is passionate about what they are saying or doing. It really makes me want to do more and pay attention to what makes you smile at the end of the day.

Where do you call home? Are you from there originally?
California is home at the moment. It’s home because most of my family is here now. Originally, I am from Maui. Ok, well born in California, but we moved when I was little. Most of my earliest memories are from our life in Maui.

Name something unique to where you live.
Wineries. I was surprised to see such a variety of wineries right around the corner from us. It is so desert like out here, figured that was the last thing I would find. Low and behold, the wineries are really popular and a lot of fun. Great weekend getaway, even if it takes only a few minutes to get there.
Share an interesting fact about yourself.
I have my own language! Yeah, I switch it all up. I will be surprised if you don’t come across something I have written and you have to ask yourself what I am trying to say! Nicknames end up being crazy too. Example: My cousin’s name is Nathaniel.. So it went from Nate to Nattie to Fattie (yeah he is far from fat..it just rhymed) to Fattalina. Yeah he is a trooper.. and yeah I am goofy. My sisters are always laughing at me!

If you had to describe yourself in a word, what would that word be?
Loyal. There is not enough loyalty in the world anymore. It can be hard to keep that up when you don’t always get that in return. But at the end of the day you're always happier when you are being true to yourself.
What made you decide to open up shop?
Actually the thought came to me a while back joking with a friend about selling cookies to the neighbors to make extra money. My partner at the time loved my Peanut butter Cookies and so watching GMA one morning I decided that was what I was going to do. Sell delicious cookies. Single mom, needing to provide for my son really helped me stick to my guns and really follow through. Now I get to stay home with him, even though I am still pretty busy.

How did you come up with your shop name? Any special significance?
Yes, my middle name is Lynsey and two of my favorite people share the last name Harper. Between the three of us there is a great deal of inspiration.

Name your favorite thing about selling handmade.
I like that it is from the heart. To make it handmade really shows the joy and passion one has for what they do. I love to see it expressed!
Do you have a day job or sell on Etsy full-time?
LHConfections is my full-time job. That and being a mom of course. I wasn’t sure if it was more a hobby until I first listed my items and actually got orders. They kept coming and I have gotten some amazing feedback and things are looking promising. I still can’t believe I own a business. Etsy is rather addicting if you ask me. There is so much going on, time gets away from you.

Give us a little glimpse into what a typical day in your life looks like.
Typical day? Well Khyre, my nine month old, usually wakes up smiling around 7a.m. I get up with him and start the coffee. He has his Cheerios and I have my java. Then off to work for a bit in between feedings, naps, playing, diapers, you know, the usual mommy stuff. I try to give myself a “To Do” list every night before bed so I have a game plan for the day. Doesn’t always get accomplished but I try. Then Khyre goes off to bed about 7:30p.m. That is when I get a few hours usually to myself. Usually I try to finish anything I have had to hold off on due to taking care of the baby. I just try to maintain some sort of balance, which is always a work in progress!
Share with us a favorite Etsy purchase or shop.
Hard to say, my favorite. Well I have a lot of favorites, especially the children’s shops. I love them. They are so tempting! I do definitely have a FAVORITE item. The Sock Monkey Shoulder Bag from iSew. I hope it doesn’t sell before I can grab it!

List a few of your most favorite pastimes.
Rollerskating.. No bed time!.. Sitting at the beach with my cousin, Nate, reading and chatting about nothing.. The Chocolate Affair! (wink wink).. Cake decorating with my bestie!

Read any good books lately?
Haven’t read anything since the baby was born. Guess the last book I read was What to Expect When You're Expecting.

What is your most prized possession?
At the moment Khyre’s pacifier!!!!!!

What are three of your favorite foods?
Chips and salsa… My dad’s preferably… Cookies of course… Anything Tevye makes!
What would you like to learn to do?
Kind of weird.. I would love to be able to chop like the pros!

What are you listening to right now?
Sesame Street is on!

Name one place you must visit in your lifetime and why?
Wow that list is kind of long. I think about all the places I can’t wait to take Khyre. His first big adventure was the beach and the next will be Disneyland when he turns one. How fun is that going to be!! I can’t wait, he has no idea!

Brienne, thank you so very much for sharing with us! It was a pleasure getting to know you...

Please stop by her shop and blog. You'll be glad ya' did!

Now, on to the good stuff ;)

Time for a Give-
away!


This week's winner will receive a sampler package like the one pictured to the right.

That's a DOZEN COOKIES!!
You get to choose four flavors, and will receive three of each. Yum!

Brienne would like to know what your favorite kitchen gadget is!

To enter, leave a comment on this post with your answer. Please be sure to include your name and email address or Etsy username.

*Important Note: This contest is open to residents of the US only.

For extra entries you can:
Tweet this giveaway: 2 additional entries
Follow my blog and/or Brienne's Blog: 5 additional entries
Blog about this interview/contest: 7 additional entries
Purchase from LHConfections: 10 additional entries

(Please include this info, if applicable, with your comment for additional entries. You do not need to leave separate comments for additional entries. Important: Don't forget to include your name and contact info!)

Contest ends Sunday, September 20th at 11:59 pm EST. Winner will be chosen by traditional drawing and will be announced Monday, September 21st.

74 comments:

RNJen said...

My favorite kitchen gadget---has to be my pizza cutter! I am ALWAYS wanting pizza weather homeade or frozen! I follow YOUR blog! =) I now follow Brienne's blog! Check out what I blogged about! (12 total entries)
http://peachykings.blogspot.com/

RNJen

peachy_kings at yahoo dot com

Sydney said...

I love my garlic press! What a delicious giveaway...I'm so hungry now after those photos!

**I follow your sunshine blog**

Sydney
scoobidoo540(at)aol(dot)com

Suburban prep said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Suburban prep said...

I make lemon squares quite often. I love the citrus reamer that I have. What a great gadget.
msgb245 at gmail dot com

secret cake said...

Those photos are mouth-watering!

I love my Sil-Pat. And my Kitchen Aid. And my slow cooker. OK, so that's three gadgets : )

Thanks for the opportunity!

secretcake (at) yahoo (dot) com

Joanna said...

My favorite kitchen thing is my KitchenAid stand mixer. Without it, I don't know how I would ever get any baking done. I love it!

Joanna
jmeyer814@yahoo.com

Nicole-Lynn said...

What a great giveaway! Yum! My favorite kitchen gadget is a Corn Zipper! It's amazing! haha

I am a follower of this blog!

seasidesmitten@aol.com

Thanks!

Lily said...

i love my blender to make smoothies and shakes.
Lmhoot@flash.net

JuliaA said...

my favorite kitchen gadget is my jar opener (i have weak wrists!).

or maybe my whisk. i have a weakness for homemade, from-scratch pudding, and you've got to have a whisk.

but now i'm curious about citrus reamers, from reading previous comments.

your cookies look amazing!

j_bdules at hotmail

Jessica said...

My favorite kitchen gadget is my pizza cutter. I use it to cut so many things!

Sheila said...

My favorite kitchen gadget would have to be my muffin tins - I use these to make chocolate chip cookie cups, brownie cups and homemade granola bar/cups. Since I get single sized portions, I don't have to do any cutting and it makes storing the finished products easier! :)

Wehaf said...

Garlic press, hands down. :)

urchiken at gmail dot com

Unknown said...

I have lots...but I LOVE my kitchen aid. I use it ALL the time!!

I follow your blog :)

sarsosariATgmailDOTcom

Abie said...

My favorite kitchen gadget is my coffee maker. Seriously, I couldn't live without the timer on that thing. Coffee is ready for me RIGHT when I wake up. Such a blessing!

abigail.lee {at} gmail.com

Sherryl said...

I love to bake too - so I can't live without my Kitchen Aid mixer! It has a permanent place on our counter.

skylars.candyclips@gmail.com

JuliaA said...

i blogged about your giveaway this afternoon!

http://juliaas.wordpress.com/2009/09/14/aaaand-more-giveaways-2/

Anonymous said...

I recently got a lemon/lime juicer. Love it! It's great for margaritas too. Thanks!
crafts[at]oursideofthemountain[dot]com

LipGlossAndLetDown678 said...

My fav gadget is my KitchenAid mixer... I was in tears I was so happy when my mom gave me one for Xmas. I think other mixers would probably give out making as much buttercream as I do LOL.

Oh, and I'm a blog follower now too :)

AM said...

The blender, I'm a smoothie addict!

Good luck everyone! =)

(email in blogger profile)

Rachael (Roscata on Etsy) said...

What a great question... hmmm... I would have to say my Global chef knife - the best holiday present from my fantastic boyfriend. Although, he was pretty smart to get me kitchen stuff for my birthday and holiday presents because he reaps the rewards!

;)

Tweet tweet!
http://twitter.com/roscatastuff/status/3997731117

I blogged!
http://roscata.com/blog/?p=670

I follow your blog and Brienne's Blog! YAY!! I'm Rachael Poston.

XO
Rachael (aka Roscata on Etsy)
www.roscata.com

Kitty Baby Love said...

cookies!!! I feel like the cookie monster...

fav. kitchen item = rice cooker. I'm asian so rice is a necessity. My first 2 years in college I cooked rice with a pot on the stove- ugh! What a nightmare. Then I got a cheap rice cooker. Smaller nightmare, but nightmare nonetheless. Then I finally got a good cooker. and ah, how delightful it is to have :}

etsy: kittybblove


already a follower of this blog. Does that count? if not, that's fine :[

Allison said...

Oh, those cookies look so good! My favorite kitchen gadget is my espresso machine. I don't use it as often as the coffeemaker, but I love that I can make lattes at home.

Unknown said...

My favorite kitchen gadget/tool is my double sided Le Creuset oven mitt. I LOVE IT!

Danielle said...

My favorite kitchen gadget depends on what I am doing. Usually, it is my Kitchen Aid Mixer, but some days it is my slow cooker.

ldsmom2201 at yahoo dot com
The Happy Wife
Homeschool Unit Studies

judybrittle said...

My favorite kitchen gadget is my Pampered Chef potato peeler. It is the best I have ever owned and would be so lost without it. Thank you!
judybrittle at gmail dot com

judybrittle said...

I tweeted #1
http://twitter.com/kewpiedoll04/status/4013930236
judybrittle at gmail dot com

judybrittle said...

I tweeted #2
http://twitter.com/kewpiedoll04/status/4013930236
judybrittle at gmail dot com

Mrs. Olsen said...

There is really nothing better than a good chopping knife! rebolsen at gmail dot com

Linda Kish said...

My favorite kitchen gadget is my avocado slicer

lkish77123 at gmail dot com

throuthehaze said...

my fave gadget is my stand mixer
throuthehaze at gmail dot com

throuthehaze said...

I follow your blog
throuthehaze at gmail dot com

Liz said...

My KitchenAid, no doubt.

J said...

Favorite gadget is the ice cream scoop!

Ladytink_534 said...

My favorite kitchen gadjet is my mixer. It was my great-grandmothers.

Ladytink_534(at)yahoo(dot)com

Ladytink_534 said...

I'm a follower
Ladytink_534(at)yahoo(dot)com

SewSweetStitches said...

I couldn't live without my multiple pizza cutters- They're great for quickly slicing up toddler food!
I'm a blog follower

sewsweetstitches_on_etsy*at*yahoo.com

Anonymous said...

My fave gadget hands down is my smoothie maker! I have a smoothie for breakfast every day and am always looking for new smoothie recipes.
Zoe0825@verizon.net

Darcy said...

I love my immersion blender for soups!

amanda said...

My favorite kitchen gadget is my kitchenaid. I love that thing!
oheeyore at hotmail dot com

amanda said...

tweet - http://twitter.com/oheeyore/status/4073750558
oheeyore at hotmail dot com

amanda said...

tweet 2, see above
oheeyore at hotmail dot com

amanda said...

blog follower 1
oheeyore at hotmail dot com

amanda said...

follower 2
oheeyore at hotmail dot com

amanda said...

follower 3
oheeyore at hotmail dot com

amanda said...

follower 4
oheeyore at hotmail dot com

amanda said...

follower 5
oheeyore at hotmail dot com

donkeytiara said...

my fave kitchen gadget is "larry the lobster"....this weird little lobster shaped chunk of ceramics that you put in a pot of pasta that stops the pasta from boiling over.....i NEVER thought I'd use it, but larry is always there for me whenever pasta is being made!! [= cindy aka donkeytiara on etsy

Stephanie Nelson Castaneda-Clark said...

My favorite kitchen gadget is my nonstick high-sided skillet. I fix everything in it!!! I can grill corn tortillas, fry tofu, do stir fry, saute mushrooms (my favorite)!!!! I never have a problem with stuff sloshing over the sides!!!! Which I absolutely hate!!!!!

sncclark@gmail.com and my etsy name is both stephclark@etsy.com and babymuffalatta@etsy.com.

Stephanie Nelson Castaneda-Clark said...

I'm a follower of your blog!!!!!

sncclark@gmail.com

stephclark@etsy.com

babymuffalatta@etsy.com

Stephanie Nelson Castaneda-Clark said...

I am following lyndsey's blog too!!!

sncclark@gmail.com

stephclark@etsy.com

babymuffalatta@etsy.com

Stephanie Nelson Castaneda-Clark said...

Oops, I meant, I am now following Brienne's blog!!!!!!

stephclark@etsy.com

Anonymous said...

My favorite kitchen gadget has to be the garlic press. Something about a thing so tiny that looks so violent makes me laugh.

Lizzie said...

My favorite kitchen gadget (if it qualifies as a gadget) is my mini-spatula and spoonula.

I'm following your blog and Brienne's blog.

smrtmouse at yahoo dot com

trixx said...

My favorite kitchen gadget has got to be my can opener. I use it so often. Even my cats are big fans of it. haha.

trixpixel[at]gmail.com

LITTLE STAR PARTIES said...

My fav kitchen gadget is a slicer from pampered chef. I cut cheese & veggies and they just look so much nicer when I use the slicer. Thanks for a great question, I love seeing others answers.
I now follow your blog:)

littlestarparties(at)verizon.net

Tylerpants said...

My fave is my garlic press. We put garlic in almost every dish so that little gadget comes in handy!
tylerpants(at)gmail.com

Tylerpants said...

I follow both blogs! #1
tylerpants(at)gmail.com

Tylerpants said...

I follow both blogs! #2
tylerpants(at)gmail.com

Tylerpants said...

I follow both blogs! #3
tylerpants(at)gmail.com

Tylerpants said...

I follow both blogs! #4
tylerpants(at)gmail.com

Tylerpants said...

I follow both blogs! #5
tylerpants(at)gmail.com

trixx said...

I follow your blog! #2 trixpixel[at]gmail.com

trixx said...

I follow your blog! #3 trixpixel[at]gmail.com

trixx said...

I follow your blog! #4 trixpixel[at]gmail.com

trixx said...

I follow your blog! #5 trixpixel[at]gmail.com

denise said...

The spatula wins over everything. it's versatile and I use it almost everyday.
qwaszx024 at gmail dot com

denise said...

I follow
qwaszx024 at gmail dot com

janetfaye said...

My favorite kitchen gadget is my banana slicer. My grandson loves it when I use it to slice bananas for him.

janetfaye (at) gmail (dot) com

janetfaye said...

1. Tweet:
http://twitter.com/Janetfaye/status/4129666647

janetfaye (at) gmail (dot) com

janetfaye said...

2. Tweet:

http://twitter.com/Janetfaye/status/4129666647

janetfaye (at) gmail (dot) com

janetfaye said...

1. I follow your blog - janetfaye

janetfaye (at) gmail (dot) com

janetfaye said...

2. I follow your blog - janetfaye

janetfaye (at) gmail (dot) com

The Glass Willow said...

its the blender for sure!

Jaime

the_glass_willow@yahoo.com

Clarissa said...

A good rubber spatula is my favorite!