Hall of Fame {Susannah Tucker Photography}

Good morning! Thanks for stopping by today. A warm welcome to new friends and old :)

Meet Susannah, a self taught photographer who's love for capturing moments in time began at the age of eight.

Her shop, Susannah Tucker Photography, is filled with beautiful images "inspired by my daughters laugh, my sons newborn deliciousness, the connection I see between people, the warmth of the sun, and a stark landscape. I love vibrant colours, watching the clouds drift across a blue sky, spring blossoms, the feel of sand and grass underfoot, rustic country scenes, all things vintage and brown paper packages wrapped in string. My favourite thing of all....getting lost in a daydream...."

Keep reading to learn a bit more about the girl behind the camera.

What inspires you?
So many things inspire me – a blue sky, sunshine, all things vintage ~ especially old cameras, pale pastel flowers, the beach, rustic country scenes, dandelions.......I could go on and on......

Where do you call home? Are you from there originally?
I’ve called Australia home for the past 6 years, and lived in the States, London, and Germany, but HOME will always be New Zealand.

Name something unique to where you live.
Koalas, Kangaroos, spiders...the Australian heat!
Share an interesting fact about yourself.
Not enough sleep + not enough coffee = a very grumpy Susannah

If you had to describe yourself in a word, what would that word be?
Determined.

What made you decide to open up shop?
When I had my daughter and became a full time mother I needed a creative outlet. I had been pottering away at photography since I was given my first camera when I was 8, and thought why not? Nothing ventured, nothing gained. I am so glad I did, so many wonderful things have come from having an Etsy shop, and I would be lost without it!
How did you come up with your shop name? Any special significance?
I have dreams of opening a portrait business for families and children, and it just seemed right to use my name for the fine art side of things, and for any other future photography projects/businesses I get into.

Your work is stunning! Have you had any formal training?
No. I am self taught. I used to think I had to be formally trained to ‘be’ a photographer, but the more you experiment and teach yourself, the more your own style develops and you don’t need a piece of paper to follow your dreams.

Name your favorite thing about selling handmade.
I get to work at my own pace, doing what I absolutely love, and be at home with my little ones. Plus I think there is something unique about creating something you love, then wrapping it up and shipping it off to someone else in the world....hoping they love it too.
Do you have a day job or sell on Etsy full-time?
I am a full time mother to a 3.5 year old, Annabel and a 10 month old, Otis. I fit in the photography around my children, and while I would love to have more hours in the day (and dream of having my own studio), I wouldn’t change anything!

Give us a little glimpse into what a typical day in your life looks like.
I am normally woken by my little girl tip toeing in to ask me if I am awake (her face millimeters from mine)– better than an alarm clock! We have breakfast together, I have coffee (mmmm, coffee....) and check emails, respond to any queries, check orders etc. We get ready (which as a lot of you with stubborn little people at home will know, can take hours), and head out of the house for the morning - to the zoo, the park, playgroup, music, depends what day it is and what we have on. During the afternoons when the kids are sleeping it’s my quiet time to package up orders, list new items, work on new photos, email, read a few blog favourites. I have a wonderful husband who takes over when he gets home from work so I can go to the gym and/or do some more photo work. I call it work but it never feels like work!

Share with us a favorite Etsy purchase or shop.
My favourite Etsy shop is Erin Carver. She is the most incredibly talented artist – www.ErinCarver.etsy.com
List a few of your most favorite pastimes.
Long summer days at the beach or swimming pool, hands down my favourite past and present time!

Read any good books lately?
A Song in the Daylight – Paullina Simons. That lady is such a good storyteller!

What is your most prized possession?
My camera collection, box of polaroids, and family photo albums.

What are three of your favorite foods?
Chocolate, coffee, sushi. Does coffee count as food?
What would you like to learn to do?
Speak Italian

What are you listening to right now?
The sound of summer – cicadas and other insects outside in the garden. I love that sound.

Name one place you must visit in your lifetime and why.
Italy. I’ve spent 2 weeks there, and it is the most romantic, incredible, cultured place I’ve ever been to. The light is incredible. It is AMAZING. We want to spend a year in an Italian village while the kids are still young, and I would spend my days biking around the villages taking Polaroids. Heaven!

***

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

While you're visiting, stop by Susannah's blog and facebook page!

Time for a Giveaway!
This week's lucky winner will receive Susannah's beautiful "Today Would be a Lovely Day to be a Butterfly" Photo Block!

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 Susannah's blog
Blog about this interview/contest
Purchase from Susannah Tucker Photography

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 31st at 11:59 pm EST. Winner will be chosen at random and will be announced the following day.

Good luck!

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.

***

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!

Hall of Fame {CindyMars7}

Welcome back and Happy Monday. You know what a purse-aholic I am, so naturally I was happy to come across this lovely Etsy shop!

Meet Mayka, the artist behind CindyMars7. Her shop is stocked with the most unique bags with beautiful attention to detail.

Mayka "grew up loving fabric and the idea that you could create virtually anything you wanted with it." She recently fell in love with her sewing machine again, and treats each of her creations as a labor of love.

Keep reading to learn who it is she has to thank for the opening of her shop, and the sweet story behind her shop name.

What inspires you?
I’m mostly inspired by history. I remember being a student at FIT ( The Fashion Institute of Technology) and having access to the amazing archives. The teachers encouraged us to visit museums, thrift shops, and flea markets, so we could have a sense of the way clothing was constructed. I became a flea market junkie after this and fell in love with pretty much all the antique clothes that I came across. I sometimes incorporate details of the past in my handbags.

Where do you call home? Are you from there originally?
I am originally from the Dominican Republic, but call Colorado home. I first lived in Bronx, NY for about 8 years ( arrived in '86 ), then moved with my family to New Jersey and lived there until I got married in '08.

Name something unique to where you live.
Oh, the mountains and the wide open spaces! I live in the Western slope, in a town called Silt. It took me a while to adjust to the quiet pace of this quaint little town, but now I embrace it. I remember going back to NY for a visit last summer and I was amazed at how much I was affected by the fast pace of the city. I was actually afraid of driving around!
Share an interesting fact about yourself.
Hmmmm, that’s a toughie. Let’s see:
I sample grapes before buying them at the supermarket, I’m afraid of the shark tunnel at any aquarium ( but go thru it anyway), I like to squish Peeps inside their cute boxes and I was born with just one kidney.…I could go on and on, but you haven’t got all day, have you?

If you had to describe yourself in a word, what would that word be?
A nurturer... I've been told that a lot.

What made you decide to open up shop?
I opened up a shop on Etsy because of my sister. I had just moved to Colorado and was unsure of what the future would hold for me work wise. She begged me to give Etsy a try before looking for a 9 to 5 job. If it had not been for her and my mother, I would’ve never had the opportunity to work from home and take care of my family.
How did you come up with your shop name? Any special significance?
My husband and I met thru an online chat room and my nickname was Cindymars7. If I had to explain to you how the name came about, I don’t think I could. It just came to me in an instant. I decided to use that nickname for the store, because it reminded me of the one chance meeting that changed my life ( just the way Etsy did).

Who taught you to sew?
Most of the women in my family are artisans in one way or another. I learned to sew by watching my mother and my grandmothers. My mom ended up opening a small business, sewing made-to-order girl’s dresses, as a way of earning extra income. Little did she know that I was watching her every move. I would take my dolls and try to replicate the dresses she created. When we emigrated to the US, she held several jobs in the garment industry. My love for sewing grew even greater when I became a teenager and wanted to look different and fashionable.

Name your favorite thing about selling handmade.
The fact that there is no right or wrong way to design! What one person thinks is ugly, another person may find gorgeous.

Do you have a day job or sell on Etsy full-time?
Right now I’m selling on Etsy full time.
Give us a little glimpse into what a typical day in your life looks like.
During the work week, a typical day consists of getting my daughter and husband out to school and work. Then I sit in front of my computer with a huge cup of coffee, to see if there are sales from the night before. Then it's off to sewing, post office, housework, library, thrift shop on different days of the week...
Then, in the afternoons is family time: dinner, time with family and yes, maybe cutting a handbag later in the evening, to sew it early the next morning.

Share with us a favorite Etsy purchase or shop.
One of my favorite Etsy stores is called Scabbyrobot. My sister and I loved the originality of both the name and the leather handbags. One of my favorite objects I’ve purchased on Etsy is a pair of antique earrings made in silver and tiger eye stones from a store called Kbjewels. I lost a similar pair when I was in my twenties and was very glad to find them again!

List a few of your most favorite pastimes.
I am a treasure hunter at heart. I love to find antique items that have been loved by someone else. It especially warms my heart to find something handmade.

I also love to cook. I sometimes make a new recipe, instead of the usual grub, to give my family some variety.
Read any good books lately?
Well, I actually have been “hearing”, instead of reading books. It is so relaxing and inspiring to work while having a great story being read to you. To me it's a form of lullaby. I have “heard” a series of great books by Malcolm Gladwell: Blink, The Tipping Point and Outliers. He truly inspired me to look past the negative and think towards the future. If you have time read at least one, they will change your life.

What is your most prized possession?
My Christian faith and my family. I know you just asked for one prized possession, but for me, they are one and the same.

What are three of your favorite foods?
Ohhh not fair! I can’t pick just three ( pouting).

Ok, here we go:
1- A dish made with scrambled eggs, white rice and ham that I used to eat as a child...
2- Rice pudding from Rice to Riches ( yeah, but only when I am in NY)...
3- Raw oysters ( too yummy for words)
What would you like to learn to do?
If only I had the patience to learn how to knit with two needles! I have tried, but always come out disappointed. I would also enjoy learning a new career, perhaps in nursing.

What are you listening to right now?
Classical music, 70’s and 80’s music ( Supertramp, Boston, Bread) and Christian Rock.

Name one place you must visit in your lifetime and why.
My husband and I would love to visit Japan someday. I find their culture incredibly fascinating.

Anything else you'd like to share?
Life is too short…go eat rice pudding with someone you love!

***

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

Mayka is offering free shipping on everything in her shop through January 15th! Add her to your favorites!

Time for a Giveaway!
Mayka is so generously giving away one of her fabulous bags to one reader! The winner will receive the gorgeous Augusta handbag pictured to the right -- a $50 value. So jealous!!

To enter, name one thing you must have in your purse at all times! 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
Blog about this interview/contest
Purchase from CindyMars7

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 17th at 11:59 pm EST. Winner will be chosen at random and will be announced the following day.

Good luck!

Hall of Fame {Artful Goodies}

Welcome to a new artist feature and giveaway, and a new year! I hope you were able to ring in 2010 with family, friends, and fun. . .

Today, I'm so happy to introduce to you a talented Etsian and fellow North Carolinian! Meet April, of Artful Goodies. Her shop is filled with unique hand stamped and inked jewelry.

Keep reading to get to know a little about her and her craft.

What inspires you?
Nature and all things I love. I actually have 2 sides of me. One that loves the sweet, pretty things like flowers, trees, birds and bees. Then my other side that loves skulls, tattoos, and COOL stuff.

Where do you call home?
Are you from there originally? Lexington, North Carolina is where I call home. I have lived in North Carolina my whole life in other nearby cities. Lexington is a small town with not much to do but be creative. lol

Name something unique to where you live.
My town has a BBQ festival every year. We love BBQ here! Local artist are hired to paint and decorate fiberglass pigs for businesses to sponsor. YES I said pigs! They are huge and some artist are very creative and morph them into all kinds of things. A challenge? YES But there have been some really cool ones. My husband and I have worked on 6 of them for the past 2 festivals. They are available for auction if they do not sell prior to the festival. Its always interesting to see what they bring.
Share an interesting fact about yourself.
Well....... I am a chocaholic!! I eat something chocolate everyday!

If you had to describe yourself in a word, what would that word be?
Eclectic! That is me in a word! I like so many different things and styles.

What made you decide to open up shop?
After many years of making things and selling them to friends and family, I was introduced to etsy and was hooked immediately. I have always tinkered with jewelry but fell into hand stamping images and the resins by accident. Being a scrapbooker I had many stamps to play with. My husband had used resins for fishing lures he was creating and I noticed the extreme shine they had. A light bulb went off and I started playing around with colors and images.

How did you come up with your shop name? Any special significance?
I feel my pieces are mini art pieces. I have such eclectic style that I wanted to keep the name open to other possibilities. Goodies kinda covered it all. So ART and GOODIES = "Artfulgoodies".
Name your favorite thing about selling handmade.
Knowing I am making items that are one of a kind, and lots of love goes into creating something that is a joy to make. The feedback I get when someone says "OMG I LOVE IT!!" is the biggest reward ever!

Do you have a day job or sell on Etsy full-time?
For 12 years I have had my own decorative finishing business (Wallexpressions). I provide unique finishes to home owners, builders and businesses for walls, cabinetry, ceilings and furniture. I also paint murals (which is my favorite thing to paint) in baby rooms, kitchens, salons and recently finished a local winery.

Give us a little glimpse into what a typical day in your life looks like.
Not too exciting may I say but.... my day is waking up @ 6:00 and starting my must needed pot of coffee. I try to check my etsy every morning and take any pics of any new items to list. I take my daughter to school everyday and start my day of painting and creating. After ending my day around 4-5:00 its time to do homework and feed the family. Following up on e-mails and etsy in the afternoons and any errands (like the dreaded grocery store). Then its time for the baths and my night time chocolate snack. Told you it wasn't too exciting.
Share with us a favorite Etsy purchase or shop.
A sock monkey I purchased for my daughter from the UK. We will never be able to travel there but it super cool to have something handmade from another country.

List a few of your most favorite pastimes.
Painting for sure! I also scrapbook and love to make just about anything. Bakeing sweets and snacks :)

Read any good books lately?
My only reading lately consist of Junie B books with my daughter. They are funny and great though.

What is your most prized possession?
The photos of my dad. He died when I was 7 and our home burned when I was a teen so there are only a few that survived.
What are three of your favorite foods?
pasta, stewed potatoes and..........you guessed it CHOCOLATE!

What would you like to learn to do?
hmmm..... take awesome photographs. I do love to play with the camera and really enjoy trying to capture moments. My computer has over 10,000 images I have took over the years.

What are you listening to right now?
Some biker crap my husband is watching on TV! lol
Name one place you must visit in your lifetime and why.
I would love to visit New York just so I can say I have. My sweet little country life just doesn't compare to that fast pace you get in the big cities!

Anything else you'd like to share?
I want to thank you for having such a great blog and letting me be a part of it! I'm not a big blog reader but was hooked on yours the first time I read it! So kind of you to spread the word of other etsy members.

***

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

Keep up with April through her shop and on twitter!

Time for a Giveaway!
April is so generously giving away one of her beautiful pendants to one reader! The winner will get their choice of any pendant from her shop -- a $16 value. Sweet!

To enter, just tell us what pendant you will choose if you win! Don't forget to include your name and email address or Etsy username so we can contact you!

Please read carefully, as the rules have changed!

For extra entries you can:
Tweet this giveaway (you can do this once per day!)
Follow my blog
Blog about this interview/contest
Purchase from Artful Goodies

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 the giveaway once per day and get an additional entry for doing so!

Contest ends Sunday, January 10th at 11:59 pm EST. Winner will be chosen at random and will be announced the following day.

Good luck!

Hall of Fame {O Bella Naturals}

Welcome back! I hope you all had a wonderful holiday. You're in for a real treat today!

Meet Betsy of O Bella Naturals -- a lovely, little shop filled with natural handmade soaps, earthwear, knits, and more! I simply love the look and feel of Betsy's shop and designs, and I'm sure you will too.

Betsy is one sweet gal, with a beautiful family. Her mission is to create affordable products that are made from natural materials and ingredients, which are free of chemicals, dyes and additives.

Read on as she takes us on a journey into the world of O Bella, and inspires us along the way.

What inspires you?
Music, nature, mountains, textures, organic colors

Where do you call home? Are you from there originally?
The town I currently call home is West Palm, Florida. It's about 20 minutes away from the small beach town I grew up in, Jupiter. Wherever my family is, that's home for me. My husband and I are living in a little cottage to save to make a cross-country move to Montana, we are aiming for 2010 to be our moving year! We will be leaving a lot of family here, but hopefully some will come too!
Name something unique to where you live.
My favorite local spot around is Jonathan Dickinson State Park. It was named after a Quaker merchant who landed here in 1696, has the historic home of “Trapper Nelson” still intact, and was a top secret radar training school during World War II. It's my family's favorite place to get together, take walks and bike rides, have Thanksgiving, and it's also where my husband and I got married in 2007.

Share an interesting fact about yourself.
I studied music in college, I'm one year away from a degree in music education. Music is my first love, it is where I am most at home with myself. I'm classically trained on flute, but I really like to play piano to rock music and violin to bluegrass.

If you had to describe yourself in a word, what would that word be?
Passionate

My mom has always told me I'm a passionate person, and it comes out in everything I do, for better or worse! It can be a burden and a blessing but I wouldn't choose it any other way. It means I dive into something I love [a movie, a book, a time period, a song] to the point of obsession! But it also means I love deeply, like my family, friends, music and nature.
What made you decide to open up shop?
When I found out I was pregnant with my first baby in 2008, I started to pay close attention [read: obsess] to what I put on my skin, finding out what toys were made of, what was in my food. I started to wonder why I was told to eat good and exercise while I was pregnant, but it was okay to bathe my baby with soap with additives and let her chew toys made of plastic made with toxins. It really started in April of 2009, my husband, baby girl Isabella, mom and dad took a trip to Idaho to visit my brother and sister-in-law. This trip was really the inspiration behind my whole shop. I had just learned to knit and knitted my baby a pair of hand warmers and had wonderful feedback! It was so rewarding making something useful and people actually asking about it! That was the start of [knits]. While there we made some necklaces from the stones we collected at the lake.. that was the start of [earthwear]. We spent a few hours searching for stones, and my mom also took a trip back to Idaho and must have collected 10 pounds of stones for me [thanks mom!] The summer of 2009 I finally started making soap for myself after wanting to for years. I was spending a fortune on natural soap for me and my little family, and I experimented and came up with a great, functional, natural recipe! Since then it has sort of blossomed from there. Natural function is really at the heart of O Bella.

How did you come up with your shop name? Any special significance?
It is named after my lovely daughter, Isabella. Her 1 year old cousin actually came up with the name. When she was born all her cousin would say was “Oh, Bella,” in such a sweet voice. It sounded like a perfect name. I chuckle every time I catch my self saying it, especially when she has created a big mess on the floor!

Name your favorite thing about selling handmade.
My favorite thing about selling [and buying!] handmade is the connection to people that you can't get buying in a commercial store. There is something very traditional, settling, and grounding about making things handmade and receiving handmade. You know the time went into prepare whatever it is, and time is the most special gift anyone can ever give.

Do you have a day job or sell on Etsy full-time?
My full time job right now is raising and guiding my daughter – it is such a special job! Etsy is like a part-time job with a bonus of potentially becoming a full-time job. I would love for it to be able to be a full-time job while I am in my season of motherhood.

Give us a little glimpse into what a typical day in your life looks like.
I wake up and say goodbye to my ever faithful, hardworking husband in the early hours. My baby girl and I [who is 1 years old today!] wake up, have our toast and coffee [minus the coffee for her] and enjoy the morning while catching up with online stuff like convos, any orders that may have sold, blogs or other things. We play and get ready for the day. I may make soap and other batches of lotions if need be, or create some necklaces. I may head out to do errands, mail packages, get new supplies, visit with some family, go to the park, visit some local shops.. Husband usually comes home in the afternoon and we do dinner and more playtime. We may watch a movie, or I might get to sewing or knitting once the little one has fallen asleep while he records music or some computer stuff. I find time to read late, it's my favorite time to settle down and read.
Share with us a favorite Etsy purchase or shop.
I currently have two ultimate favorite shops on etsy, although there are so many I have found and loved! The first is Gaia Conceptions – she makes eco-chic clothes for the urban nomad. I am in love with her materials and designs, I own one of her dresses and wear it more than I will admit to! The second is Violet Bella, whose store I found on your blog! I love all of her photos, jewelry designs, and clothes, they are so unique and capture a wonderful essence!

List a few of your most favorite pastimes.
Anything that involves things with naturalness - the way things used to be made. We started our own organic garden and I like to find fresh produce and cook with it. I'm really interested in alternative building materials, especially with cob, and my husband and I are in the beginning planning stages of a future cob house. Cob is a building material made from earth, clay and straw, it used to be used in houses in Wales. You mix it with your feet and lay it with your hands. Talk about the ultimate natural handmade project! Some houses still stand today and are over 500 years old. My great-grandfather grew up in one in Ireland, so it will be an amazing and traditional project!

I mostly love to spend time in the mountains in the west - which is pretty far from where I am. I try to get out as often as I can to camp, hike, see small towns, pick flowers, collect rocks, splash around in rivers. While I'm not out camping in the west, I'll visit the beach here or get my favorite lunch [subs and cupcakes] and eat them at the park. I'm also really getting into sewing, it's quickly becoming a favorite hobby!

I love to play music gigs, teach and learn new styles of music. My husband plays guitar and bass guitar and we love to sing and play a good Pink Floyd song together while our little one plays at our feet and dances along.

Read any good books lately?
I have read a few good books lately:

The Dream Giver by Bruce Wilkinson

End the Fed by Ron Paul

The Constant Princess by Philippa Gregory

The Silmarillion by J.R.R. Tolkien

What is your most prized possession?
After my family of course, which I can't really count because I don't possess them :) But they keep me going, day in and day out, I could own nothing and still have the world with them.

I really cherish the handmade bench my mom passed to me recently. My parents bought it in the 70's, I used to play on it as a baby and now my daughter plays on it. Pretty special to me.
What are three of your favorite foods?
Anything homemade! Some favorites I've made lately are:

homemade guacamole with avocados my husband brought home

homemade honey butter

creamy chicken and wild rice soup

What would you like to learn to do?
I'm learning to sew right now, it's something I've been wanting to learn how to do for a long time, so I guess I would like to learn how to get better at sewing :)

What are you listening to right now?
Hello Hurricane album by Switchfoot

Animals album by Pink Floyd

Soundtrack to Ink

Name one place you must visit in your lifetime and why.
It's always been my dream to visit the old castles in Ireland and England. I have always been preoccupied.... (obsessed?) with the Late Middle Ages and Renaissance eras. I would also love to visit the birthplace or home where my favorite composers lived in Europe.

Anything else you'd like to share?
Thank you to Lory who so kindly took interest in my shop and thanks for doing this interview with me, and thanks for taking the time to read a little about the woman and story behind O Bella. Don't hesitate to contact me with questions or just to chat, I'm always up for meeting new people!

***

Betsy, thank you so much for stopping by to share with us. It was a pleasure getting to know you better. And wishing a very happy birthday to little Bella today!

Keep up with Betsy and her growing shop by visiting her flickr, becoming a facebook fan, following her at her blog and on twitter, and adding O Bella Naturals to your favorites!

Time for a Giveaway!
Betsy has so generously put together a special sample set for this contest! It includes: A Set of 4 Sample Soaps - Mocha Cream, Brown Sugar, Honeybee, and Lemongrass, a sample Brown Sugar Rustic Butter, and a Natural Vanilla Lip Butter, all wrapped up in cotton cloth! Wow!

To enter, just tell us what your favorite scent is! Maybe you love the smell of freshly baked bread or sugar cookies? Or perhaps lavender, crisp spring air, or the smell after it rains? Don't forget to include your name and email address or Etsy username so we can contact you!

Please read carefully, as the rules have changed!

For extra entries you can:
Tweet this giveaway
Follow my blog and/or Betsy's blog
Blog about this interview/contest
Purchase from O Bella Naturals

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.

Contest ends Sunday, January 3rd at 11:59 pm EST. Winner will be chosen at random and will be announced the following day.

Good luck!

Hall of Fame {Knot Original}

I'm dreaming of a white Christmas. . .
Ok, ok. I won't start that again :) We got some snow here in NC this week. How about you? I'm hoping we get some more for Christmas!

Well, wherever you are, it's probably cold outside. So grab a cup of hot cocoa and keep reading. This is sure to warm you up!

Meet Sharon, the lovely lady behind the shop Knot Original. Her shop is filled with unconventional, handknit accessories which are sure to help you stand out of the crowd.

Sharon divulges a bit about herself below. You even get to meet her adorable dog, Francis! And of course, enter for a chance to win something to keep you warm and toasty this winter.

What inspires you?
I can't imagine anything that doesn't inspire me.

Where do you call home? Are you from there originally?
For the past 2 years home has been a small peninsula on the Puget Sound of Washington. I grew up in South Jersey, followed by detours through Boston, Florida, Cancun, Philadelphia, and then Arizona before arriving in Gig Harbor.

Name something unique to where you live.
Unusually clean clear air
Share an interesting fact about yourself.
I'm blind in one eye all thanks to following my neighbor Fred right through a sliding glass door. Boys were trouble even at 5 years old!

If you had to describe yourself in a word, what would that word be?
sarcastic

What made you decide to open up shop?
I don't remember coming to a decision, one day I had no shop and then I did.

How did you come up with your shop name? Any special significance?
I had a long list of about 20 names written out. Knot Original was the first one I came to that hadn't already been appropriated by the 12 other sellers/buyers who I have yet to run across and swear don't exist.
Who taught you to knit?
I taught myself with the help of Knitty Gritty on the DIY channel and the freeze frame feature on the dvr.

Name your favorite thing about selling handmade.
There's an appealing charm about objects that don't have to be, or aren't even supposed to be machine-looking perfect. I like the thought of on any given day there could be someone walking around different parts of the world wearing something that began as an idea in my head and was created with my hands.

Do you have a day job or sell on Etsy full-time?
Not a full time day job but I do freelance medical illustrations for law firms and paintings for fine art gallery shows.

Give us a little glimpse into what a typical day in your life looks like.
I no longer have anything resembling a typical day. We recently adopted a 180lb mastiff from the rescue shelter. After driving my husband to catch his bus at 5:30am, much of my time is spent teaching Francis (he came with the name) that I am not a squeaky toy, he needs to share the couch and that his new full time people aren't going to abandon him. I get spare blocks of time in to knit and do other things when the overgrown baby is napping!

Share with us a favorite Etsy purchase or shop.
I could spend days in christopherpines looking through all the pretty colored ribbons and trims and I just discovered the most delightful tea stained hand printed muslin ribbons from homesteadtreasures today. I can't wait until they arrive!

List a few of your most favorite pastimes.
playing volleyball, rockclimbing, and snapping the suspenders of strange men

Read any good books lately?
I just got the cutest 2010 calendar of baby pigs called Pretty in Pink, there is a bit of type involved
What is your most prized possession?
My husband, getting that clingy exgirlfriend to disappear was a lot of work!

What are three of your favorite foods?
bacon on the verge of being burnt, grilled mozzarella, tomato and basil sandwiches, and ruby grapefruits with honey

What would you like to learn to do?
Iron so that when I'm finished the wrinkles don't mockingly reappear in a matter of minutes
What are you listening to right now?
my ocd neighbor in yet another attempt to blow every last pine needle from his driveway

Name one place you must visit in your lifetime and why.
I would love to spend some time at the Karisoke Research Center in Rwanda to study the gorillas.

Anything else you'd like to share?
If you put a candycane in a ziplock bag and smash it to dust with a hammer it makes for an amazing taste sensation when added to chocolate chip cookie dough.

***

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

Please stop by and give her shop a heart while perusing her lovely things!

Time for a Giveaway!
Sharon has so generously made a special pair of fingerless gloves for this contest! The winner will receive the colorful pair pictured over there to the right!

To enter, just leave a comment on this post with your favorite piece from Sharon's shop. Don't forget to include your name and email address or Etsy username!

Good luck!

For extra entries you can:
Tweet this giveaway: 2 additional entries
Follow my blog: 5 additional entries
Blog about this interview/contest: 7 additional entries
Purchase from Knot Original : 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, December 27th at 11:59 pm EST. Winner will be chosen by traditional drawing and will be announced the following day.