Hall of Fame {Poor Pitiful Pearl}

Hello everybody! Coffee is brewing, the sun is shining, and I know this is going to be a wonderful day!

Meet Shauna, the passionate mom behind Poor Pitiful Pearl. Her shop is filled with beautiful and unique clothing, that she creates in between devotions and nap time.

Shauna is very enthusiastic about helping those in need, and donates a portion of her profits to helping others.

I encourage you to visit her website, and read this interview. You'll be inspired!

Learn to do right! Seek justice, encourage the oppressed. Defend the cause of the fatherless, plead the case of the widow. Isaiah 1:17

What inspires you?
Everything. I love colorful happy things. Things you wouldn't expect to go together. Things that don't match, mixing the old with the new. I love the texture of certain fabrics and am drawn to things like nubs on an old worn out dish cloth. I love rummaging through bins of junk, finding a treasure amongst it all. That is so rewarding. I love taking things that are seemingly trash to someone else and make it into something unforgettable and special. I am very much a visionary... a dreamer. I lie awake a lot, feeling a sense of urgency to put my ideas to paper. When I design an article of clothing, I paint a visual picture of a moment and a person in that moment... I think all things tell a story and that's why I feel like I sell more of a lifestyle rather than clothing. The clothing I make is inspired by the girl who lives life without the worry of spilling a bit of coffee on her shirt... I embrace the beauty in imperfections and am attracted to things that are real and authentic.
Where do you call home? Are you from there originally?
For now... I reside in Texas. For the last three years that is. Currently... we are building a home in the country. ( that is another design process that has my mind whirling) I love the country and its quietness... the smell of cedar burning... my husband all rugged, chopping wood and me digging up dirt in my organic herb garden. With all that being said... I am a born and raised southern californian... and my husband and I both surfers and lovers of the ocean. He's a lot better of a surfer than I ... lol We hope to live near the ocean again someday. I feel a little off centered when I am not near the pacific. The smell of the salt, the gusto of the unpredictable waves. The ocean is one of my favorite things that the Lord has made. It's one of the few things that calms me and actually silences my ever going mind.

Name something unique to where you live.
Coming from California... Everything in Texas is unique. People are much more friendly to strangers out here... people wave at you when you drive past them... at first my husband and I wondered if they had mistaken us for someone else... Texas Pride is also very unique... so many of the people born and raised here have never left Texas and never intend to.

Share an interesting fact about yourself.
The Toms Shoes commercial makes me cry every time I watch it. I have such a heart for the orphans. My dream is to someday be able to be successful enough with PPP, that I can take personal trips to orphanages and bring clothing and necessities to them. This is the dream in my heart that breaks up the routine of everyday life and makes my life full of purpose and intention.
If you had to describe yourself in a word, what would that word be?
As generic as it may sound.... I would say passionate.

What made you decide to open up shop?
After I finished design school, I was waitressing at my friends Mexican food restaurant, El Gringo. I would roller skate to work and pop on my flip flops to sling burritos... it was a nice simple life.. I always had a big dream to own my own shop and be my own boss. I was driving around with a friend and a starbucks when I saw a "for lease" sign in a small cottage style shop right on the beach in Hermosa. That was five years ago. I filled out an application and got the shop, just like that. I had no money or business plan.. I just winged it and it was a great success. I didn't take out a huge loan that hung over my head... instead I moved in an old vintage sofa, a vintage TV that played Disney movies all day long and brewed tea or coffee at the front door. I hung clothes in the shop like it was my home and people came in and hung out like it was their second home. It was very warm. After being in business three months.. My shop was named best one of a kind clothing store in the South Bay's easy reader. Business was plentiful. However.. When I became pregnant with McCoy.. After only a year of being in business, I knew I couldn't juggle running the shop and being the Mom I wanted to be.. I decided to close shop... and sell on ebay. Then someone told me about etsy and it was love at first sight.
How did you come up with your shop name? Any special significance?
Many significances actually. My grandmother, the most amazing woman who ever lived.... Called me that. She would say I reminded her of the doll that was very popular in the 50's, because of the hobo way I would dress.. . Poor Pitiful Pearl was a doll who came in an orphan dress and then had a nice dinner dress you could change her into. It's pretty symbolic because that's what I do in a sense with scrap.. And turn rags into something valuable. The fact the Pearl was an orphan too.. Is all the more significant having later realized that was my calling. I am sure I am sounding redundant by now... but that is the KEY to my heart... the orphans.

Name your favorite thing about selling handmade.
There is something so personal and rewarding about making something... and it's a nice escape from all the mass manufactured garbage out there. I also have a very rebellious attitude towards trends.. For example I detest Coach bags, McDonalds and Black Friday shopping at the mall. I just don't like things that are over advertised and produce conformity.... And because I don't like following trends, it seems natural for me to make trends.

When did you learn to sew? Who taught you?
Funny because I learned to sew in college... you would think like most people who are crafty they have learned their trade as a young child. I should tell you that my grandmother or mother taught me how to sew or that I dressed up my dolls or something... but that wasn't the case at all. I really had no interest in sewing in my younger years... I was a social butterfly and sewing required too much patience and stillness for me.. In fact I took a home-ec class in high school and was terrible at it. I don't like to follow directions very much. I like to just throw stuff together and see what happens... ( you should see what happens in my kitchen... the food turns out good... but it gets really messy) In college, I had to retake pattern making class a few times, because it was so precise and it involved math.... I cried several times in that class. I swore I would never make a collar or follow a pattern... but I do use pattens now... only I make them how I want them. I find I do better when I make the rules.
Do you have a day job or sell on Etsy full-time?
I sell on etsy full time.... and am a stay at home Mama...

Give us a little glimpse into what a typical day in your life looks like.
Oh my gosh are you ready for this? I wake up... first thing... coffee... and if I wake up before my daughter.. I open the bible to a random spot and let God lead me in his wisdom for the day. I then take my scraggly lady in the tramp look a-like dog out for some frisbee. His name is Rigster and he was rescued from a land rig. One day my husband and I would like to start a men's clothing line called Rigster Benny in his honor. He is a wild man who sometimes sports a faux hawk.

Then we do breakfast and I check emails. That's when I package up any sold items and respond to etsy questions. I then make a to do list.. I'm neurotic about it... and get my daughter and I ready to head out and conquer... usually these errands include going to the post office, going thrift store shopping, buying threads and elastics, etc. I rack my brain to find ways to make these mundane activities seem like play for my daughter, by letting her hide in the clothes racks and pretend I can't see her or let her count and carry the elastic rolls to the cash register. I always make a park date or picnic in the midst of my running around that gives McCoy and I a nice mommy and daughter break. I try to get an exercise session in there... but being 8 months pregnant. This takes much willpower.

Then we have lunch and rally McCoy up for her nap. I have been blessed with a good napper. McCoy is almost four and still naps for about three hours in the afternoon. The minute her head hits that pillow, I go into work mode and it's nutty over here. I cant stop for even a phone call.. This time is precious to me. When my husband gets home from work we have dinner, and then he does all the bedtime routine stuff, bath time, story time and puts McCoy to bed... McCoy enjoys this Daddy time and I enjoy this time to creatively re-charge. I am able to sew some more, write some on my blog and maybe cut some squares or rummage through my bins for new projects. My husband is very supportive of my job and is very appreciative that I am able to stay home with McCoy and still bring in an income.

Prized time at the end of the day is connecting again with my husband with some hot cocoa and some back gammon, gin rummy or a netflix. .... I am married to my best friend..I feel truly blessed to be in love.

{Rigs & McCoy}

Share with us a favorite Etsy purchase or shop.
I can't get enough fire daughter burn out tees and she will make customs too.

I don't really buy clothing from anyone because I make my own.. But these tees are super comfy. Not to mention Samya the owner is one of my favorite etsyers.

List a few of your most favorite pastimes.
I lived in Costa Rica when I was 20... I got a one way ticket and took my dog Rocky. At the time I was a certified massage therapist. I stayed at a surf camp and massaged traveling surfers. My dog Rocky was my wingman, I had Rocky since I graduated from high school.. He was a great swimmer... and ball connoisseur. He was my best friend for many years and the coolest dog ever known to man. He passed away one year ago, I miss him greatly...and will always savor that time in my life when life was simple and it was just he and I on the beach.

Read any good books lately?
Yes! I love books... and the bible is my favorite... I dig up gold chunks everyday in the bible that keeps me centered and encouraged.... I read anything from CS Lewis, Beth Moore, and anything from my quiver of holistic books on herbs and medicine. I recently ordered Caesar Milan's Dog training book.. Lord help me... Rigster Benny is in need of training in the most embarrassing way.

What is your most prized possession?
I try not to prize possessions... but I love my pictures and films of family and past times... those things are priceless.. I also made McCoy a baby blanket out of my grandmothers pajamas. I love it.
What are three of your favorite foods?
SUSHI.... Mexican and the Whole Foods Buffet.

What would you like to learn to do?
This question gives me anxiety. I just signed up for a knitting class in january and would love to learn before my baby comes( I am 8 months pregnant) so I can hunker down and knit while breastfeeding and cuddling with the new babe. I want to learn Decoupage, lamp remaking, mosaic art, get more creative with my stores photography.... I am also slowly going through an online degree in holistic medicine.. So I'm always reading health books on alternative medicine and I love applying what I learn to our mealtime so that my family and I are always eating well and taking care of ourselves.

What are you listening to right now?
Kids Playing and laughing... McCoy has her little buddy over and they are playing dress up.

Name one place you must visit in your lifetime and why.
Italy, my husband is Italian and I think it would be so romantic to go on a gondola ride in Venice.. I imagine Italy being a very romantic place.

Anything else you'd like to share?

I donate 10% to Casa Hogar Orphanage in Puerto Escondido from all my PPP profits.

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Shauna, thank you so much for stopping by to share with us. It was a pleasure getting to know you better.

Don't forget to visit her website to learn more about her efforts to help kids in need. You can also read more about her, her business, and visit her blog.

Time for a Giveaway!
Shauna is so graciously giving a $30 store credit to one lucky reader!

To enter, tell us your favorite piece from her shop. Don't forget to include your name and email address or Etsy username so we can contact you!

For extra entries you can:
Tweet this giveaway, and/or follow me on twitter
Follow my blog and/or Shauna's blog
Blog about this interview/contest
Purchase from Poor Pitiful Pearl

Just leave a comment with your answer. Then, an additional comment if you are applicable for extra entries.

For example: If you want to enter and you also tweet the giveaway and follow my blog; leave your original comment + another that you tweeted + another that you are a follower = a total of 3 comments. Don't hesitate to contact me with any questions.

You can also tweet this giveaway once per day or follow me on twitter and get an additional entry for doing so!

Contest ends Sunday, January 24th at 11:59 pm EST. Winner will be chosen at random and will be announced the following day.

Good luck!