Hall of Fame {Mia Beads}

Welcome back! You've been missed! Once again I want to say thank you for the love and support. The comments, tweets, convos and emails have meant a lot. Thank you, thank you.

I feel so honored to have been able to interview this week's Hall of Famer. Mia is just about the sweetest gal you will meet. She runs a beautiful and successful Etsy shop, Mia Beads, filled with "freshly picked pretties." Her shop is brimming with colorful, unique pieces. Personally, I own a couple of Mia's designs and was blown away by not only the craftsmanship, but her outstanding customer service and packaging. All of this from her little attic studio!

Mia has a bit of experience under her belt, since she started creating jewelry at the age of five! She began making "real" jewelry in middle school and participated in craft shows, thanks to her creative mom and grandma, and supportive father.

I feel privileged to call her my friend and have enjoyed getting to know her better. I know you will too, so read on as Mia divulges a bit about herself (and offers one reader something lovely)...

What inspires you?
Color & nature mostly. I'm also inspired when I find a cool vintage bead or locket and I'll often build a piece around one component that I love.

Where do you call home? Are you from there originally?
I live in Western New York, where the weather is crazy and we have snow half of the year. I've driven down snow covered roads where the only thing guiding me was flares. As much as I'd love a sunny & warm climate to call home, I can't leave my family and friends!
Name something unique to where you live.
Buffalo Wings!

Share an interesting fact about yourself.
I get the hiccups every time I really, really laugh... and I can cross only one eye at a time.

What made you decide to open up shop?
My cousin told me about etsy and I immediately signed up after checking out the site. Two years later, while selling my jewelry locally, I finally started my etsy shop as a place to send local customers who found me at shows. I definitely wasn't expecting etsy to become my main venue, but I'm so happy it did!
Name your favorite thing about selling handmade.
I love when I get to know my customers and I think that people who buy handmade really appreciate that; I know my jewelry is going to a loving home.

Do you have a day job or sell on Etsy full-time?
I design and sell my jewelry full-time now, through etsy and my wholesale accounts. I do home parties on occasion, but mainly for friends and family. I also teach a workshop on jewelry design at the local bead shop on Thursday evenings... nice to get out of the house once in a while!
Give us a little glimpse into what a typical day in your life looks like.
I wake up and do all of the "computer stuff"; Answering emails, relisting sold items and thanking my customers, purchase supplies, type up invoices for wholesale clients & write out my orders to be shipped that day. Then I go up to my workspace to make & fill orders, print shipping labels & take everything to the post office. Once I'm done with these things I'll work on custom orders, making & listing new items, blogging, etc. When my boyfriend gets home from work, we'll make dinner and relax together. I try to stay off the computer and away from my work during this time, but I usually find something I need to do.
Share with us a favorite Etsy purchase or shop.
I love my "Live What You Love" Print from Hijirik and my Faux Bois Inspiration Board from Shabby Vintage Mom.

List a few of your most favorite pastimes.
I love cooking with my boyfriend, and spending time with him and our puppy! Concerts in the summer, dancing, hysterically funny movies, shopping for vintage goodies and doing crafty things with my mom and friends & just relaxing and having a good time with the people I love.

Read any good books lately?
I used to read constantly, but lately it's been strictly business! The last book I read was "Craft, Inc." which shares inspirational stories and interviews from successful indie entrepreneurs. It's a great book for people just starting or even thinking about selling their work, too.

If you had to describe yourself in a word, what would that word be?
Indecisive. I can't pick just one.
What is your most prized possession?
I'm pretty psyched about my autographed Bono shirt at the moment. I'm super excited to see U2 in Chicago and Toronto this fall.

What are three of your favorite foods?
Strawberry shortcake, yellow cake with chocolate frosting (both with vanilla ice cream) and chicken parmigiana.

What would you like to learn to do?
I would love to know more about graphic design. It's always been really interesting to me and sometimes I have something in my head, that I would like to turn into an image. Specifically for my blog and packaging, as well as designing things like stationary and labels. I love fonts and colors and making things pretty.
What are you listening to right now?
At this particular moment in time I can hear the tv in the background and the really annoying buzzing noise that my dryer makes, but I am listening to Modest Mouse.

Name one place you must visit in your lifetime and why.
I'd love to visit Europe; Italy, Ireland & the city of Paris. My parents backpacked through Europe when they were my age and they've always talked about it being such an amazing experience. I studied French when I was younger and although I don't remember everything, it's a beautiful, romantic language and I'd love a good excuse to practice!
Thank you to Mia for sharing with us! Please visit her blog for further inspiration, and her mom's shop that she helps out with, Paper Pumpkin, full of paper and fabric goods, and accessories.

Time for a Giveaway!!
One lucky winner will get their choice of any item from her shop valued at $18 or under. Awesome huh? There's so many great pieces to choose from - this may be hard! ;-)

What's your favorite piece from Mia's shop? To enter, please leave a comment on this post with your answer, name, and email address or Etsy username.

For extra entries you can:
Tweet this giveaway: 2 additional entries
Follow my blog and/or Mia's blog: 5 additional entries
Blog about this interview/contest: 7 additional entries
Purchase from Mia Beads: 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, August 9th at 11:59 pm EST. Winner will be chosen by traditional drawing and will be announced Monday, August 10th.

Midweek Updates

A little late...

FREE SHIPPING anywhere on anything in my shop is still going on throughout July!
Be my 200th customer and receive a FREE GIFT with your purchase!

Lots of new pieces listed in the shop today! And more to come!

Don't forget about EtsyProjectEmbrace. Stop by and support the cause!

And... Get in on the City Farmhouse Giveaway. It ends this Sunday, so you better hurry! The winner gets to choose either a lovely pillow or necklace. Enter here!

Hall of Fame {City Farmhouse}

Hello there! Welcome to this week's Hall of Fame Interview and Giveaway. Kick back, relax, and enjoy...

Meet Jen, the sweet lady behind the shop City Farmhouse. Jen is a stay-at-home-mom to her three year old boy. One of four kids, she was always encouraged to be creative and was taught to sew by her mom at age eight.

Read on to delve a little into her passion. Learn where she lives that is so inspiring to her, her love of ice cream, and a chance to win some of her lovely work!

What inspires you?
Life, history, design, nature, music but most of all it is people that inspire me the most. I am inspired by their stories; hardships, triumphs, dreams fulfilled, dreams lost, love for family and friends and their resilience.

Where do you call home? Are you from there originally?
I call Bellport, NY home. I was born and raised in this quaint little seaside town.
Name something unique to where you live.
Bellport is a historic town situated on the Great South Bay. If you walk the village streets you will see beautiful historic homes lined with white picket fences, you can watch the sailboats come in and out of the harbor, take a ferry ride to Fire Island, park yourself at the band shell for a concert, let the kids run around at the “slide beach”, walk through town and browse the local shops, cool off with a little ice-cream and/or finish the night off with a great meal at one of our 4 incredible restaurants.

Share an interesting fact about yourself.
I received my undergraduate degree in Elementary Education and taught the first 3 years out of college.

What are three of your favorite foods?
That’s easy, ice cream, enchiladas and bread, not all together of course.
What made you decide to open up shop?
It just seemed like the next step, I have been designing and selling my products for a very long time and through that experience I thought selling on etsy would to be a win, win. I had a brick and mortar shop along with a web site and I actually think etsy is the best fit for me.

Do you have a day job or sell on Etsy full-time?
I definitely wear many hats through the day. I am a stay at home mom who sells on etsy as much as possible and who just in the last year made my way back into teaching.

How did you select the name City Farmhouse? Any special significance?
I wanted a name that brought together old with new, urban with country and I like the play on words, people are always curious.
Name your favorite thing about selling handmade.
I love knowing that someone out there appreciates my designs and the time that it took to create it. I enjoy the chit chat with my customers whether in person or via email, I get a thrill knowing they’re happy.

Share with us a favorite Etsy purchase or shop.
I have so many favorites!

Here are a few of Jen's favorites, which I think reflect her lovely personal style...

earrings
cuff
bobbies
print

List a few of your most favorite pastimes.
I walk almost every day, it is my time to reflect, I am better when I have this time. I enjoy taking photographs just for fun. I love garage sales, tag sales, antique shows, any place where I can find a diamond in the rough and turn it into something spectacular and spending time with my family.

Below, are a few of Jen's photographs...

Read any good books lately?
The last book I read was about a month ago, it was Summerhouse by Jude Deveraux. Amazing book I highly recommend it, a great summer read.

What is your most prized possession?
I would have to say old family photos and my wedding rings.

If you had to describe yourself in a word, what would that word be?
Nice. I have been on the receiving end of kindness and I value it tremendously. I think lending a hand so to speak is one of the most important things we can do for each other.
Name one place you must visit in your lifetime and why.
I think I would have to say France and Ireland. My father’s father was from Nice, so I would love a chance to visit, to connect to that part of my heritage plus the fact that it’s a magnificently beautiful area, which is all the more reason. My mother was 100% Irish and she was very proud of her Irish roots, they were from Belfast. Since all I have left from her and her side of the family are notes and letters from the past I would love any opportunity to rekindle my connection to my Irish legacy.

A huge thank you to Jen for participating in my little interview and sharing her lovely work with us! Please stop by her shop and give her a heart and her blog to read more about her.

Time for a Giveaway!!
Oh how I wish I could get in on this one! Jen has so generously offered the winner their choice of one of the two lovely items shown below. The Tattered Flower Necklace or The French Beach House Pillow which reads - Maison de Plage. Both are valued at $30! Wow, thanks Jen!

To enter, please leave a comment on this post with your name, and email address or Etsy username. That's it!

For extra entries you can:
Tweet this giveaway: 2 additional entries
Follow my blog and/or Jen's Blog: 5 additional entries
Blog about this interview/contest: 7 additional entries
Purchase from City Farmhouse : 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, July 26th at 11:59 pm EST. Winner will be chosen by traditional drawing and will be announced Monday, July 27th.

Hall of Fame {Eastern Sky}

Welcome back, everyone! Grab a cup of coffee (or maybe tea would be more appropriate in this case), and kick back to read what may be the most insightful and inspiring interview yet.

Meet Lana, the dexterous woman behind Eastern Sky. Lana is truly a jack-of-all-trades, running not one, but three successful shops on Etsy.

Keep reading and discover her undeniable passion for handmade, her many skills, just who is Mr. P, and a chance to win some of her gorgeous, handmade work.

(above polaroid: Lana with her father - she's "the one without the beard.")

What inspires you?
Anything and everything! Inspiration can hit from the strangest places; a smell, a sound, the play of light through leaves, a ripple on water, the curve of a unfurling fern… Almost anything you see can evoke a thought which can grow and take shape in your mind, and turn into the most unexpected things…

Where do you call home? Are you from there originally?
Home is currently Shropshire (England), and I have lived here since 1994. It’s a beautiful place, with rolling green hills, picturesque villages and ribbons of woodland. I was born in Manchester, but moved from there to the countryside of Cheshire when I was about 5.
Name something unique to where you live.
The world's first cast iron bridge was built over the River Severn at Coalbrookdale in Shropshire in 1779. The Ironbridge Gorge Museum Trust has 10 museums along the river including Blists Hill Victorian Town, which is a recreated Victorian town full of people in costumes where you can experience Victorian life up close and personal! Fun AND educational… : )

Share an interesting fact about yourself.
Interesting huh? Let me see… I was born backwards. Yup, came out butt-first. With my feet tucked behind my ears

What are three of your favorite foods?
Is a cup of tea food? Cause I love a good cup of tea. (It has to be Twinings Earl Grey though, it’s the best sort.) I’m not sure I’m able to choose just 3 things, my favourite foods depend entirely on what time of day it is, whether it’s summer or winter… There’s just too much good food out there! I’m quite partial to a bit of seafood though. Mmmm, prawns…
What made you decide to open up shop?
Opening a shop wasn’t really so much of a decision as a necessity… I literally can’t stop myself from making things. My bedroom/studio is filled with wire, gemstones, fabric, yarn, paper, pencils, paints, fibre for felting, glue, beads, thread, pliers, random supplies I’ve had an interesting idea for but haven’t got round to using yet… I drag my crafting supplies around with me; if I know I’ve got to sit somewhere and wait even for 10 minutes I take knitting with me, or a sketchbook. If I sit down to watch a movie in the evening I will generally be knitting at the same time, or making felt beads, or drawing, or wire wrapping some gemstones… I have several boxes filled with bags of jewellery I’ve made and haven’t had chance to photograph yet. I’ve got bags stuffed with hand knit scarves and cowls that need listing, I’ve got about 3 massive quilts that need finishing off and about a hundred other projects on the go. I’m learning to make shoes. If I don’t sell some of this stuff I will eventually disappear beneath a mountain of handcrafted goodness… Also I need money to buy new supplies so I can make more things! I love the sense of satisfaction you get when you sit back and look at something you have made all by yourself. Honestly, I never want to do anything else.
Do you have a day job or sell on Etsy full-time?
I used to have a day job! Until April of this year I was working in a hospital pathology department (my degree was in Biology and Biochemistry…), but it was only a temporary position, and when it finished I decided to take the plunge and concentrate full time on my etsy shops. It’s been a lot of hard work so far, and I’m anticipating more hard work to come, but it’s also been a lot of fun! I’m really hoping to be successful enough not to have to go back to a ‘regular job’. I’m currently running 2 shops on etsy, EasternSky and FirebirdJewellery, but I’m considering opening some more! (I guess I’m a sucker for punishment…) I want to keep each of my shops looking cohesive and not too cluttered with random things, so I’m thinking I might open a separate shop for hand knit things, clothing, quilts (and maybe shoes when I’ve figured them out), and another one for artwork and photography… I don’t know, is 4 shops a crazy idea? Cause I’m also thinking about another shop for handbound books and one for stuffed animals too… Oh yeah, and there’s my beading supply shop. (themagpietree, currently empty…) Too much? Feel free to write and tell me I’m crazy.

How did you select the name Eastern Sky? Any special significance?
Picking a shop name is one of the hardest things ever. It has to be something you won’t get fed up of, cause you can’t change it! I did have a pretty long think about it, and I ended up with Eastern Sky mostly because it sounds quite nice and not too silly… Also it’s quite symbolic in a way; the East has always sounded exotic and interesting, centuries ago all the traders would head off into the far East and return with exciting cargoes of silk, spices and gems. The East has always made me think of things like Arabian Nights and exotic adventure… The sun rises in the Eastern sky and so it symbolises new beginnings and rebirth. I wanted my etsy shops to be my rebirth, moving away from the world of 9-5 jobs and commuting, and into a world of creativity where I felt happy and fulfilled. I’ve kind of got a rebirth theme going on with my shop names now since I opened up FirebirdJewellery (firebird = phoenix), so I guess I’ll have to bear that in mind if I open up any new shops!

Name your favorite thing about selling handmade.
Everything! I love every aspect of it. I love looking around for the perfect items and supplies to work with (online shopping is great for this as the whole world is my store), I love opening packages that arrive in the mail and inspecting the new goodies (I’m currently awaiting the arrival of some handmade lampwork beads that I’m quite excited about), then I get to make things! Lately I’ve been finding the photography quite tedious as I end up taking so many photos, and then I spend hours editing them, and I’m never quite satisfied with the end results. Although just the other day I got a lovely surprise convo through my jewellery shop from someone who just wanted to tell me how much she liked my work, and that my photos were stunning! (Thank you Charlotte!) And that’s another thing I love about selling handmade, the interaction you get with the people who buy your work – knowing that something you’ve made, and put a little piece of your soul into is being loved and appreciated by someone far away, perhaps on the other side of the world…
Once upon a time, everything was handmade. Everything that was ever made was made by someone’s hands, and each item had care and attention put into it. That somehow made things more special, gave them more meaning. If I drop a shop bought bowl and break it, I just throw away the bits and buy another one from the supermarket or wherever. It’s identical. A thousand people have the same bowl in their kitchen cupboard. If I drop a handmade bowl I bought from a ceramic artist, I would feel really upset. The bowl would be gone, and there would never be another one quite like it. I love everything about selling (and buying) handmade, but perhaps my favourite thing is the fact that the item in question IS handmade, and when you hold it in your hands, you are holding a little piece of someone’s soul…

Share with us a favorite Etsy purchase or shop.
Where to begin? There are so many! I love shopping on etsy. There are so many things I spot every day that I really want to buy, but I have to restrain myself… My last real impulse buy, where I spotted something and loved it so much I had to buy it there and then was a beautiful pale blue vintage Amelia Earhart suitcase with hand drawn illustrations on it from Rachel of GetReadySetGO. I couldn’t really afford it, but I bought it anyway. I wasn’t even going anywhere.

List a few of your most favorite pastimes.
Making things! : ) I also love reading, but lately just haven’t had the time to sit down and read something. I can quite happily spend a whole day curled up in a chair with a good book (and a cup of tea), but these days my head is filled with thoughts of “I should really be doing that photography now” or “Don’t I have about 500 photos to edit?” and “I’d better get those orders packed up to go to the post in the morning”…
I love going for walks too, not huge mad hikes or anything, just happily wandering through the countryside and daydreaming as I go.

Read any good books lately?
See above! I think the last book I actually sat down and read was ‘The Woman in White’ by Wilkie Collins. I wouldn’t say it was my favourite book ever, but I did really enjoy it. Some of my favourites include ‘Voice of the Fire’ by Alan Moore, ‘And the Ass saw the Angel’ by Nick Cave and most things by Neil Gaiman. (I also have a secret love of the Harry Potter books, but shhhh! Don’t tell anyone…)

What is your most prized possession?
I’m not sure I have one single possession that stands out above all the others… Out of all the things that I can be said to own, I would be most upset if something happened to my cat Pippin (that’s Mr P to you…) although he’s not really my possession, he comes and goes as he pleases.

Pippin

If you had to describe yourself in a word, what would that word be?
I only get one? Hmmm… I think I’ll go with ‘creative’. Although perhaps it should be ‘indecisive’…

Name one place you must visit in your lifetime and why.
Again, only one?! I’m no good at this choosing thing… There are so many places in the world that I really want to go to… How can I choose between Machu Picchu and Angkor Wat? Although just lately I do really have my heart set on Australia…

A huge thank you to Lana for sharing with us! Stop by her blog and show her some love...

Time for a Giveaway!!
Didn't I tell you you'd be glad you stopped by?! Lana is generously offering one winner a set of two of her lovely bracelets (as shown above) in either cotton or merino yarn in whatever colors they choose!! Awesome!

Lana would like to know what your favorite movies are!
To enter, please leave a comment on this post with your answer, name, and email address or Etsy username.

For extra entries you can:
Tweet this giveaway: 2 additional entries
Follow my blog and/or Lana's blog: 5 additional entries
Blog about this interview/contest: 7 additional entries
Purchase from Eastern Sky or FirebirdJewellery : 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, July 19th at 11:59 pm EST. Winner will be chosen by traditional drawing and will be announced Monday, July 20th.

Hall of Fame {Laura Trevey}

Hi again! I'm so glad you stopped by. Today's Hall of Fame Interview & Giveaway is sure to brighten your day...

Meet Laura, the artistic woman behind Watercolors by Laura L. Trevey and her new shop, L and L Designs. Laura paints "bright, bold, and beautiful" watercolors. Her original and limited edition prints are sure to catch your eye. She has partnered up with a friend for her new shop, where her paintings are transferred onto fabrics to make beautiful custom items from pillows to tea towels.

Stay tuned for a glance into Laura's life and a chance to win a piece of her lovely artwork for your very own!

What inspires you?
Beauty all around me! You just have to open your eyes to the world...

Where do you call home?
I've always lived in Virginia ~~ and love it! I love the change of the seasons...

Name something unique to where you live.
It is not far from the beach!! I love the ocean ~~
Share an interesting fact about yourself.
When I get in bed at night, I am already excited about coffee in the morning!

What made you decide to open up shop?
I love to paint, and share it with others!

When did you first learn to paint?
As a child...
Name your favorite thing about selling handmade.
The people are amazing, and I have my watercolors worldwide ~~ Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Greece to name a few!

Do you have a day job or sell on Etsy full-time?
I paint and promote my Etsy shop full time.
Many of your watercolors are filled with beautiful flowers. What's your favorite bloom?
I love looking out at a field of beautiful wildflowers!! Black eyed Susan's catch my eye too!

Share with us a favorite Etsy purchase or shop.
I love Cindy Spangler's jewelry shop! Very unique...
List a few of your most favorite pastimes.
Painting, painting, painting!

What is your most prized possession?
My children ~~ all three of them!

New Red Crab Pot Holders - Perfect for the 4th of July!

What are three of your favorite foods?
A good summer tomato, avocados, and blueberries!
Thank you, Laura, for sharing your love of painting with us! Stop by her blog to learn more...

Giveaway Time!
Laura is generously offering a $20 gift certificate to either of her lovely shops! This will cover the cost of one of her fabulous prints (example) or you can use it towards the purchase of something else.

Tell us what your favorite color is! I'm sure you can find it in her shop. ;)

To enter, please leave a comment on this post with your answer, name, and email address or Etsy username.

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 Laura: 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, July 5th at 11:59 pm EST. Winner will be chosen by traditional drawing and will be announced Monday, July 6th.

Hall of Fame {Marjji}

Welcome back! Thanks for stopping by for this weeks Hall of Fame Interview and Giveaway!

I'm so pleased to be able to introduce you to these talented artists with their variety of handmade goods. Which brings us to this week's artist...

Meet Tamara, the skilled woman behind Marjji - the cutest little shop filled with her animal creations.

Tamara shares a bit about herself below...


What inspires you?
Inspiration comes from materials, process, and the ideas that creep into my mind. If I ‘get stuck’ …a trip to the thrift shop moves things right along.

Where do you call home?
Home is an area in Northern Ohio known as the Firelands. However, growing up, we call The Laurel Highlands of Pennsylvania home because that is where my Parents and Grandmother who liked to sew cats lived.
What made you decide to open up shop?
I have a BFA in Printmaking Minor Ceramics and a Masters in Art Education from Kent State. I teach Middle School Art as a day job. Although, I do enjoy showing others how to make things and find the creative spirit…something was missing – I needed to make things. I discovered Etsy in March of 2008 and read the site like a book, textbook. I opened a shop in July of 2008. I was attracted to crafting in that one could put down a project, walk away and resume without a problem. Unlike painting and printmaking, which requires an uninterrupted thought process in my case. . . and so fiber arts, my secret love, was my Etsy shop idea. First came the Cats, a pattern I drew from a memory of little calico cats with a curl tail that my Grandmother made from extra fabric. Then came Wee Hedgehogs (originally a cat toy experiment) Owls and Bunnies. I look forward to many more wool discoveries and am thankful for the Etsy Venue.
Name your favorite thing about selling handmade.
My favorite thing about selling handmade is happiness - Happy customer and Happy me.

Do you have a day job or sell on Etsy full-time?
As mentioned above, I teach Middle School Art as a day job. Sometimes I forget that it is work. I truly enjoy the energy of 10-14 year olds. For example, a boy once told me that writing about art is like painting with words. This year an 8th grade girl felt that we are what we make and we make what we are…I walk through those thoughts for a couple of days…
Share an interesting fact about yourself.
I wait all year to make Caprese Salad fresh from the garden…and this summer I will try my hand at making fresh mozzarella cheese.

What's on your playlist this week?
This week my little one has discovered Rock and Roll. So, Splish Splash, Wooly Bully, and Rockin’ Robin are house winners.
Share with us a favorite Etsy purchase or shop.
My favorite etsy shops: cathycullis & mummysam
Simply outstanding.
List ten of your most favorite things.
1. Marjji, my sweet little dog
2. Summer night scents
3. Fresh peaches
4. Happy children
5. Ocean water
6. First warm day in the spring
7. Caprese Salad
8. Finding things
9. Cozy bed
10. Making things
Name one place you must visit in your lifetime and why.
I would very much like to visit the United Kingdom - my Father’s side of the family.

Giveaway Time!
One of Tamara's adorable Sugar Bunnies is up for grabs! Thank you, Tamara, for taking time to take part in this interview and offering one of your beautifully handcrafted critters.

Tell us what your favorite animal is! Maybe we'll see it in her shop one day...

To enter, please leave a comment on this post with your answer, name, and email address or Etsy username.

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 Marjji: 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. Don't forget to include your name and contact info!)

Contest ends Sunday, June 28th at 11:59 pm EST. Winner will be chosen by traditional drawing and will be announced Monday, June 29th.

News Flash

I couldn't keep all of these fabulous contests to myself, so here I am! You'll be glad you didn't miss out on these!

Hop over to the Perfect Sentiment blog, and enter to win a lovely 8x10 print of your choice from inspiration board! Inspiration board is the brand spankin' new shop belonging to the lovely Amy of the b-line.
Get Ready, Set, Go is offering up $30 towards anything in her shop. And let me tell you, there are some fabulous pieces in there under $30...you won't be able to pick just one! Kristin of {sweeter than me} is hosting the giveaway on her blog. Enter here!
This next artist, who happens to be a fellow North Carolinian, has a beautiful, little shop that I just discovered! Meet Musette and stop by the b-line to enter to win some lovely earrings.
Last, but not least, don't forget about the giveaway going on right here at The Sunshine Studio! Pearl, of Maya & Ruhi, was inducted into the Hall of Fame, and you can enter to win a piece from her shop valued at $32 or less. Click here for details!

A Couple Reminders

The YART Sale over on Etsy ends today! That means there's only a few hours left to take advantage of free shipping on all rings in my shop. I've also added a few new pieces. More to come!
The Vintage Bag Giveaway also ends today. You have until 11:59pm est tonight to get your entry in. If your name is chosen, you get to pick out a lovely, vintage bag for yourself, so don't miss out! Enter here!
Be sure to stop back by tomorrow, when the winner will be announced! And you won't want to miss the new interview/giveaway that starts tomorrow. Wait 'til you see who's in the Hall of Fame this time!!

Hall of Fame {The Vintage Bag}

Happy Monday, everyone! This interview is sure to bring a smile to your face, and get your week off to a great start.

Meet Amanda, the radiant woman behind The Vintage Bag and Funkyshique. I met Amanda a couple weeks ago, through Etsy of course, and we have been chatting ever since. It wasn't until last week, as I checked out of her shop, that she saw my address and discovered we live in the very same town! How neat is that?! You can imagine our surprise. It is a small world after all!

I had the pleasure of meeting Amanda in person and sitting down to chat over her favorite, a java chip frappuccino. I have a feeling our local Starbucks will be seeing a lot more of us.

What inspires you?
Vintage fabrics, doilies, linens, lace, old photographs! I look at an old linen and try to make it the center piece! I would rather have my vintage linens worn and displayed rather than hidden away in a drawer! I really love carrying a handmade bag! It not only looks 'vintage-chic', but feels so good too. I have a never ending stash of vintage linens and doilies and I love each and every one!
Where do you call home?
In my heart, where ever my husband and son are, that's home. But physically, I haven't found 'home' yet. When I find my dream house (an old refurbished farmhouse) out in the suburbs of a small quaint town, I will know 'I'm home'!

What's on your playlist this week?
Well, if you mean music, I love soft classical and some opera. There's just something so inspiring and 'rich feeling' about soft classical music playing in the background. But the other side of me loves 70's funk music! Every so often I get up from my sewing table and 'bust a move'! (I laugh at myself quite often!)
Share an interesting fact about yourself.
Other than being 'fabulous' (hehehehe!), I'm a self taught sewer!

What made you decide to make vintage bags?
My mom says I was born with a sewing needle in my hand! When I was in about 5th grade, I would cut up my clothes and makes purses, and proudly carry them to school. My mom wasn't so happy about it because she would buy me a new shirt, and before she could turn around, I had already cut it up! I have always had the desire to carry a 'handmade' bag!
Name your favorite thing about selling handmade.
There's just something so special about using something that someone put their skills and heart into. I love the fact that I take some scraps of this fabric, and scraps of that fabric, add some doilies and lace, and turn it into something pretty! I hope that when someone buys one of my bags, they use it, feel good about their purchase, and love it.
Do you have a day job?
I wish I could say that I have a beautiful little shop in the heart of down town (what we call the 'art district' round here) full of beautiful handmades, antiques, shabby chic furniture, linens and gifts (that would be the life, wouldn't it girls?) But in reality, my husband and I own a small used car lot in town, that I run most of the time. But I will keep dreaming about my store!
Share with us a favorite Etsy purchase or shop.
My newest favorite is the woman, Lory, who was gracious enough to do this interview and include me in her wonderful blog, The Sunshine Studio! I was fortunate enough to meet Lory because she happens to live in the same town as me! YAY! She was sweet enough to give me one of her handmade rings, and I truly love the ring just as much as I love her! And I plan on buying many more of her jewelry pieces!

My other favorites are:
My Turtle Baby
Estate Sell Treasures
Rustiqua
My So Called Junky Life

Honestly, I could list all day. I truly love Etsy and admire the craftsmanship! It amazes me how many artists there are out there in the world! I'm proud to be a part of that!
Name one place you must visit in your lifetime.
I would love to get in a sail boat and stop at each and every island in the Bahamas. I would also like to visit 'Ground Zero' in New York, just to say a prayer.
List ten of your most favorite things.
(In no particular order!)
1. white slip covered furniture
2. gifts from the sea, such as seashells, starfish, conch, etc.
3. a Java-chip frappuccino from Starbucks. If I die, someone please throw one in the casket with me!
4. pale pink roses
5. antiques - usually anything chippy, rusty, worn, tattered and well-loved.
6. love stories
7. handmade vintage style bags
8. Ice cream on Sundays with my hubby and son (Coldstone Creamery!)
9. sail boats
10. everything white


Giveaway Time!
Amanda, has generously offered to let the winner pick out an awesome bag of their choice from her shop The Vintage Bag! Sweet!

Let us know us know a favorite vintage item or family heirloom that you, personally, treasure with your entry!

To enter, leave a comment on this post with your name, answer, and email address or Etsy username.
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 The Vintage Bag or Funkyshique: 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.)

Contest ends Sunday, June 14th at 11:59 pm EST. Winner will be chosen by traditional drawing and will be announced Monday, June 15th.