We're changing it up this week on Treasure Hunting, and featuring more of our favorite Etsy finds for the home- all with a fun Mid Century Mod theme. Here's some handmade goodness for your weekend:
Showing posts with label handmade brilliance. Show all posts
Showing posts with label handmade brilliance. Show all posts
Friday, May 25, 2012
Treasure Hunting // Etsy Finds, Mid Century Mod
We're changing it up this week on Treasure Hunting, and featuring more of our favorite Etsy finds for the home- all with a fun Mid Century Mod theme. Here's some handmade goodness for your weekend:
Saturday, April 21, 2012
Handmade Brilliance { Local } // Katie Jean Designs
I cannot get over the shear brilliance of Katie and her work! Her style is perfection! So glad we found her!!
1.Tell us about yourself. What brought you to now?
Growing up, my mom had taught me to sew, but that was about it. I never imagined it going anywhere. A few years back, my neighbor and I started sewing together and started a line of children's clothing on Etsy. As time went on we both developed our own adult lines, and it just took off from there! I had received a box of old lace and slips from my great Aunt, and crafted that into the first vintage Slipdress. My neighbor, Monique, also has a very successful Etsy shop, Ouma Clothing where she sells handmade special occasion clothing as well! We still live within a mile of one another and give each other inspiration from time to time.
2. Outside if creating, what do you do?
I love to go on "adventures" around the city with my two sons Caden and Clive, who are 5 and 3, and my husband Jonce. We love to have friends over for movies on the projector in our back yard. I also try to make time to hang out with my friends as much as possible. A few of them, including Monique, are fellow Etsy sellers, so we all have busy schedules, and try to make time for one another.
3. What is your secret to life? Any words to live by?
I know this sounds corny, but just stop making excuses for not doing the things you want to do, and go for it! If you keep coming up with reasons why you can't do something, you may never get the chance to do what you love.
4. Where do you sell your creations?
Most of my sales are through Etsy, but I do get orders through my website as well. Although recently, I have set up some deals with boutiques across the nation, and even the world, who will be carrying a few of my pieces very shortly! 
5. Give a shout-out to a handmade artist like yourself!
Monique, like I said earlier had a shop on Etsy named Ouma Clothing. Jenn from Mignonne Handmade makes gorgeous headpieces and jewelry and has done numerous photo shoots with me. If you are looking for an amazing photographer, check out Kym Ventola, who took most of the photos in my shop. :)
Saturday, April 7, 2012
Handmade Brilliance { local } // Villarreal Ceramics
Saturday, March 24, 2012
Handmade Brilliance { local } // The Lonely Heart
1. Tell us your story. What brought you to now?
I love
business, I love stress & I love keeping busy. I have worked for a
corporation, I have worked for my husband in his business & I have owned a
few businesses myself over the years, but my true passion is being a stay home
mom who home schools.
When
the recession hit, it went through like a tornado in our home. Everything was
in crumbles & turned upside down. My husband was laid off from his trade
and the market became non-existent in our quad-city area. Facing the realities
of the possibility of losing our home and all the dreams we had built over the
past twenty plus years was truly scary! So I said a huge prayer to God and opened a shop on Etsy.
I
started “The Lonely Heart” with nothing but a few hearts, salvaged wood, and
some barbed wire. God has been so faithful to us! The Lonely Heart took off. I
had so much business coming in that I had to have my daughter, Aumber, start
helping me. We are now looking at ways to expand our line to support the both of us.
2.
Outside of creating, what do you do?
I am a full time wife, mommy of five girls, I love gardening and living a
country lifestyle.
Aumber is finishing up her last year of high school. She has an
incredible eye for photography & is a wonderful horse artist. My hope is
she will pursue these two incredible gifts.
Secret to life...love your family & make
the most of your time. Both Aumber & I are homebodies and are always looking to find
some zany fun in the everyday things. We truly enjoy each other's company, so
it makes for a great day pretty much everyday!
4.
Where do you sell your items?
Our items are only available on Etsy. We discovered Etsy a few years back
& just love it! It has a wonderful community & just so many talented
artists. Etsy is perfect for my lifestyle as I am a homeschooling mom of four. I can teach school & work the hours I choose, which is a huge blessing.
5. Give a shout-out to a
fellow handmade artist like yourself!
TheFunkiLittleFrog // Her hand painted signs are gorgeous, I covet
her steady hand!
LukeLampCo // Luke's lamps are awesome & his
storytelling skills are to die for!
TheHealthyNut // Ashley's granola is second to none, she takes
granola to a whole new level!
pattycakeprimitives // I
love Cheryl's work, her dolls & animals each have their own personality!
estatesaletreasures // Vikki
has the best stash, at the best price for the collage artist & she is such
an amazing person!
crimsonclover // Two
amazing gifted women in their art.
Saturday, March 10, 2012
Handmade Brilliance { local } // Huckleberry Faye
Isn't Katy stunning? I asked her if she would be my fashion icon and she said yes. So excited. Not only is she gorgeous, but she's crafty! Her crochet and sewing skills are amazing, combined with her style and we have to die for products!
1. Tell us about your story. What brought you to now?
I grew up watching my mother craft and had the makers' mind instilled in me at an early age. I marvel at our ability to create and think it's amazing what we can do when our hands and hearts work together.
I began creating the Kismet Plush Collection in 2006 as a way to keep myself busy after graduating college and working part-time. The dolls have taken many forms since then and have slowly evolved into what you see today. I take tremendous pride in craftsmanship and won't settle if I don't feel good about the doll I am producing. I think I am my biggest critic. I love creating this plush line and hope that they bring smiles and comfort to children and adults alike.
Crochet is my leisure craft. A good friend taught me how to crochet one day while working in the computer lab of our college. I don't know what I'd do if she hadn't showed me the way because I get an itch to work that hook every night as a wind-down from the day! I think everyone who crochets or knits knows what a therapeutic exercise it is! I can't seem to get enough. In the Wintertime I keep my hands busy by stitching up little caps for boys and girls.
When I was pregnant with my second little girl, I developed gestational diabetes and by the time she was born, I just wanted a donut so badly! I created the crochet donut rattles sort of in exchange for the real thing.
With everything that I craft, I hope to be an inspiration to my girls, showing them that they can achieve whatever they dream up.
2. Outside of creating, what do you do?
I am a wife and mama to two girls - Ella, three and a half, and Poppy, 14 months. I stay home with them and we fill our days with lots of playing, reading books, and little adventures. I create when they nap and mostly after bedtime, too late into the night. I also run a lifestyle blog, katyverga.com, where I write about our family life, feature style posts, and share my handmade goods.
3. What's your secret in life? Any words to live by?
I wish I knew the secret to producing more time and also how to get by with less sleep!
I make it a point recognize and savor the good little things that are sprinkled throughout our days. I really try to be aware and grateful and let my girls in on that attitude. I think it's always good practice to end the day in a positive mood and not take any regrets to bed with you.
4. Where do you sell your items?
I have an Etsy shop - HuckleberryFaye.etsy.com where you can find all of my goods.
I'm also really excited and honored to have some items in shops around the valley. The GrowOp and Frances Vintage, both in downtown Phoenix, carry a few dolls and donut rattles.
5. Give a shout-out to a fellow handmade artist like yourself!
There are so many handmade artists I love and could get lost for hours browsing around on Etsy. Since we're currently looking to fill our freshly painted white walls with colorful, happy prints, I'll give my shout-outs to ashleyg, matteart, and helendardik. Check out their Etsy shops!!
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Thank you, Katy, for sharing your adorable creations with us!
Saturday, February 25, 2012
Handmade Brilliance { local } // Bitsy Bear
My talented friend, Chelise, is an amazing seamstress. She creates clothing for little girls that are to die for. Not to mention her daughter is such a darling model. Lucky for us she shares her original designs for sale through her successful business, Bitsy Bear.
Prepare yourselves. You are about to panic because of cuteness overload.
Tell us your story. What brought you to now?
I am a self-taught seamstress, designer, and business owner. I did not grow up using a sewing machine or even had a sewing machine in my house growing up I don't think. My husband bought me my first machine when we got married and I learned how to use it by making quilts. When my daughter Drew was born, I quit teaching first grade to be a stay-at-home mom. I loved staying at home with my baby and would not have had it any other way, but all the creative juices and motivation I used to use for my students needed somewhere to go. So I not only started sewing for her but knew I wanted to make a business out of it.
Oh how Bitsy Bear has grown from the baby stage of onesies, burp cloths, and binky clips. As Drew grew, I became more daring with my sewing creations and made her my first dress. It was rough around the edges, but it was cute! I became more confident. Since I have never liked store bought patterns, I bought books from Amazon that taught me how to make my own patterns and create them in a range of sizes. I started selling my designs and am still doing so today!
Many people tell me that they wish they could sew and I always say, "You can!" You will probably have to pull out stitches and replace broken needles along the way, but if you want to sew then sew!
What does handmade mean to you?
I have read many times about people who say that they started their own clothing line because they just couldn't find cute enough clothes while shopping in stores for their own children. For me that is just not true. There are so many to-die-for kids clothing out there. I have also heard people say that they hand make to save money. Again for me, just not true. Fabric, buttons, thread, zippers, needles, etc. add up in my book to much more than a dress I could go pick up at Old Navy.
Handmade, to me, is a connection to a person. When my daughter puts on a finished dress I made her, even at four years old she knows it is special. She says things like, "You made this for me? Thank you! I love it!" She knows I spent time on something just for her (well it's for me too, but don't tell her that). You can't get that kind of personal connection from that cute $10 Old Navy dress. I know my customers are not buying dresses from me to make a personal connection with me, but they know that what they are getting is something special.
Chelise also designs these adorable onesies that feature the lyrics to nursery rhymes.
Keep an eye out on her shop because she is always featuring seasonal dresses and new designs.
Follow her on facebook and get details when she is doing a give-away or having a sale.
And go get your daughter a unique Easter dress and show it off!
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