CLOSED: Handmade Feature/Giveaway: My Little Critterz

We are super excited to share with you this fun and colorful etsy shop as our second feature for 2011!

My Little Critterz is full of crocheted and handmade hats, headbands and more!  We love all the bright colors and playful designs that shop owner/designer, Lindsay uses.  

Meet LINDSAY of My Little Critterz:

What does your life outside of Etsy/blogging look like?

When I am not working on listing items, renewing, photographing or shipping purchases for my shop, MyLittleCritterz, I spend hours at night crocheting my handmade hats, headbands and toys. What I sell in my shop is not made on a machine, so it becomes very personal to me when I am fulfilling my orders. During the day, I am a substitute teacher for my school district in southern California until they are able to start hiring full-time teachers. I enjoy going to different classrooms because I get a lot of great ideas and I love working with the various grade levels. When I’m not at school or “working” for my shop, I enjoy spending time with my loving husband (of almost two years) and my wonderful family. My niece and nephew give me a lot of inspiration through the television shows that they watch, and what I think they would enjoy wearing. I am a book enthusiast (just like some people are wine enthusiasts); I love reading!! I read all different genres and authors. Anything that is suggested to me I read, and I could spend hundreds of dollars at the bookstore if my husband would let me. I am also trying to enjoy working out and getting in shape, but it is difficult to say the least…(torturous, horrendous, time-consuming, exhausting, just a few more words to describe those experiences!!!) In the future, I would love to own a home with my husband, start my family, become a full-time teacher and continue to grow my shops while doing what I love.

Describe yourself (or ask someone else to do it!) in three words.

Loved, Creative and Intelligent (from my husband)

Beautiful, Patient and Giving (from my mom)

Fall piece you can’t live without:

This winter, I can’t live without my comfy boots and scarves. Even though it doesn’t get very cold in southern California, it is wonderful to get bundled up to go out!

Most recent fashion-related purchase:

I haven’t bought anything fashion related for a long time, but I can’t wait for Spring to come so I can go shopping for my trip to Hawaii in April!! I will be looking for light fabrics in great colors. Shorts, skirts, tank tops, summer dresses, swimsuits, sandals and so many more fun things to get…

Do you craft/make anything else outside of what’s in your shop?

 I am an endless crafter! Besides crocheting, I do needlepoint, sewing, quilting, I make my own jewelry (and sell it), and being a teacher allows me to share my creative side with the students I work with. As I mentioned, I have another Etsy shop, houseofjewelry.etsy.com where I sell my handmade and one-of-a-kind jewelry.

Any Pet Peeves?

 My biggest pet peeves are people who are late (my husband is notorious for this), being interrupted when I’m talking (it’s a teacher thing), and people who don’t know how to drive in California.

Bad Habits?

 Trying to take on to much at once and stressing myself out. I’m working on not sweating the small stuff.

Desert-Island food?

 Chocolate!!! (anything.) This is my down fall…..LOL.

Three bands/ singers you can’t get enough of:

 My musical choices vary greatly! I honestly like almost all music depending on what kind of mood I am in. I can’t pick just three…..so, Carrie Underwood, Keith Urban, Sugarland (my country favorites), Armin Van Buuren, Cascada, Groove Coverage (my techno favorites), Evanescence, Linkin Park and Ill Nino (my other music favorites).

Another blog you follow regularly?

Unfortunately, I don’t follow blogs as much as I would like to, but I would like to create my own so that I can share my process of creating, my ideas and my stream of thought to my shoppers/buyers and whoever wants to read about it.

What made you decide to start a shop?

 I started my shops (both HouseOfJewelry and MyLittleCritterz) because I love making items for myself, but most importantly, I wanted to be able to share them with other people. I have always loved looking on Etsy because of the great handmade or vintage items that are available. So this was a natural progression for me. I will admit that it is stressful at first because you’re not sure as a seller what people will think of your products. However, with My Little Critterz, I have gained confidence in my creations.

Significance of your shop name?

Lindsay's Hoot! The Owl Hat

My Little Critterz has two significances for me. First, the Little Critters books were my favorite children’s books growing up, so I just adapted the name a little for my shop. Secondly, I think of my hats as my little critterz, my creations that children and adults alike will fall in love with and treasure as much as I do. Someday, I will be making them for my own children and grandchildren to enjoy.

Favorite item in your shop right now?

 My favorite item right now is my Hoot! The Owl Hat. It is available in three sizes:

 Newborn/Infants 0-12 Months

Toddlers/Kids 1-10 Years

Preteens/Teens/Adults

This hat is adorable with the big eyes; it is warm and practical with the earflaps and ties and can be customized with yours or your child’s favorite colors!!

Lindsay is offering a Hoot! The Owl Hat to one of our lucky readers!  

The winner will get to choose between the Newborn/Infants 0-12 Months size or the Toddlers/Kids 1-10 Years size and will be able to choose their child’s favorite colors to customize this hat (we will email the winner a color chart to select from)!  

Here's how to enter:

Mandatory Entry 

1. Follow our blog! Once you become a follower, just leave a comment below, telling what your favorite item from My Little Critterz is.  If you’re already following the blog and our twitter—simply leave a comment, telling us what your favorite item from My Little Critterz is!

Additional Entries
2. Follow Miskabelly (@miskabelly) on twitter…and again, just a quick comment to let us know you did (with your twitter user name) and share what your favorite item from My Little Critterz is.

3. Once we tweet about the giveaway, you can re-tweet to gain an extra entry!

4. HEART  Miskabelly on Etsy (leave us a comment to let us know!)

5.  HEART My Little Critterz on Etsy (leave us a comment again!)

 This contest will run until next Monday, February 7th.  The winner will be chosen through a random number generator. 

Good Luck!!

Manda &Jayme

CLOSED--Handmade Feature/Giveaway: Little Buttercup Baby

With a shop name as cute as "Little Buttercup Baby" you know it must be filled with equally adorable goodies for your little one--homemade bibs, burp cloths, baby shoes and more, to be exact!  Shannon, the owner/creator behind this etsy shop has a great eye for all things baby.  We love the layers she uses in her designs-- quilted patterns, overlapping fabrics, rick rack accents and contrast stitching.  

Let's get to know Shannon:
--What does your life outside of Etsy/blogging look like?

Outside of Etsy I am a wife and a stay at home mommy of two wonderful children. I have a three year old daughter and a three month old son. I used to work full time outside of my home but when we moved two years ago, I was able to quit my job and do the job I have always wanted, a mom. My husband is amazing and works extra so that I am able to stay home and raise our children. We have been together for eight years and married for four. He is my best friend and our family means everything to us and I enjoy every day with them.

--Describe yourself (or ask someone else to do it!) in three words.

Creative, quiet, intelligent (those words come from my mother)

--Fall piece you can’t live without:

I am a big fan of the puffy vests with the hood and fur! I think they are still “in” but even if they aren’t, I still love them : )

--Most recent fashion-related purchase:

I bought a red hooded vest from Old Navy. I love red and it just stuck out on the rack to me and had to have it. I am not the most fashionable person so I never buy anything too crazy. Since I no longer work outside the home my wardrobe consists mostly of jeans and sweatshirts, comfy clothes I can wear while playing with my kids.

 --Do you craft/make anything else outside of what’s in your shop?

I make a lot of different things. I sew, knit, crochet, scrapbook….the list goes on. I am always trying new things when it comes to crafting. I make my children clothes and blankets, things for my husband. I am focusing most of my time right now on items for babies as I have a newborn and have a “guinea pig” to try my new items on!!

--Any pet peeves?

When things aren’t organized. I tend to be a perfectionist with some things and if they aren’t how I want them it makes me crazy. But don’t look at my sewing room…at least right now, still working on it. lol

--Bad habits?

Buying too much fabric! I love fabric and every time I go to the fabric store I find myself leaving with at least one piece of it. I always find a cute pattern that I want to make a bib or baby shoes out of and I have so much! Luckily I have a dresser in my sewing room and it is the perfect storage for all of it.

--Desert-island food?

Chips and hot salsa…mmmm

--Three bands/singers you can’t get enough of:

I can’t think of three at the moment but I know one of my favorite singers is Carrie Underwood.

--What made you decide to start a shop?

When my husband told me that our house didn’t need anymore quilts in it! I loved making quilts and baby things but I could only give so many away as gifts and my sewing room was getting taken over by finished projects. I thought Etsy would be a great way to sell my things and make enough money to support my hobby.

--Significance of your shop name?

My shop name was inspired by my children. When my son was born I kept calling him my little buttercup and then my three year old daughter started calling him her little buttercup so that is how Little Buttercup Baby came to be.

--Favorite item in your shop right now?

Infant Set of 3 Bibs – Candy, Sweets, Donuts & Ice Cream themed

http://www.etsy.com/listing/60148726/infant-bibs-set-of-three-sweets-candy

Shannon also has a lovely blog where she shares shop updates, yummy recipes and little bits and pieces of what's going on in her day to day life:

http://littlebuttercupbaby.blogspot.com/

You should check it out!

Some goodies from Little Buttercup Baby could be YOURS!  Shannon is giving one of our readers a set of two signature bibs in a fun bumble bee print--suited for you little boy OR girl!

Here's how to enter:

1. Follow our blog! Once you become a follower, just leave a comment below, telling what your favorite item from Little Buttercup Baby is.
2. Follow Miskabelly (@miskabelly) on twitter…and again, just a quick comment to let us know you did (with your twitter user name) and share what your favorite item from Little Buttercup Baby is.

3. If you’re already following the blog and our twitter—simply leave a comment, telling us what your favorite item from Little Buttercup Baby is!

4. Once we tweet about the giveaway, you can re-tweet to gain an extra entry!

Multiple entries are allowed (if you want to follow the blog, AND our twitter AND re-tweet  go for it!).  This contest will run through next Sunday, November 28th.  The winner will be chosen through a random number generator. 


Good Luck!!

Manda & Jayme 

CLOSED: Handmade Feature/Giveaway: A.O.kay Designs

This week we would like to introduce you to a lovely little etsy shop--with crocheted baby goodies (we're talking tiny hats and hair accessories too cute for words) and embellished onesies (I'm obsessed with this green and pink tree with contrast stitching!).  The shop is called A.O. kay Designs and the owner/designer is Crystal--a stay at home mom of two.

Let's get to know a little more about Crystal:

What does your life outside of Etsy/blogging look like?

I’m a stay at home mommy of two adorable little girls, Aubrey 5 and Olivia 2.  They keep me busy all day long.  We play, learn, and make lots of messes.  When I’m not busy with them I try and sneak in some cooking, cleaning, and anything else I need to get done.  I’ve been married to the sweetest guy for over 6 years.   We just moved back to our home town and are loving the small town life. 

Describe yourself in three words.

Crafty, easy going, and caring

Fall piece you can’t live without: my brown sweater.  I love it.

Most recent fashion-related purchase: new jeans.  I was in desperate need.

 Do you craft/make anything else outside of what’s in your shop?

Absolutely!  I love all types of crafts and share them on my blog www.crystalscraftspot.blogspot.com.

Any pet peeves? Most of my pet peeves come from driving like not people not using a blinker, or driving to close.

Bad habits? I’m easily distracted.   I have so many unfinished projects because a new idea comes and I have to start it right away.  Also our house suffers because of this as well.  You always know when I finished something because our house looks like a tornado hit. 

Desert-island food? I can’t live without pizza and Reeses peanut butter cups.

Another blog you follow regularly:

There are so many!  My favorite is probably Sumo’s Sweet Stuff   http://sumossweetstuff.blogspot.com.  She crafts for her two little girls so it’s perfect for me.

What made you decide to start a shop?

I’ve been blogging for the last year and have been thinking about opening my own shop for a while.  Since we moved back home we are trying to save up as much money to build a house.  It seemed like the perfect time.  I am hoping to help out with the saving a bit or at least cover my crafting addiction.

Significance of your shop name?

A and O come from my daughters Aubrey and Olivia.  They are the ones that inspire me to create and often spark the ideas I have for my shop.

Favorite item in your shop right now?

Probably my heart onesie.  It is so soft and sweet. 

Crystal has put together an awesome prize, with some super cute things from her shop!  Enter for your chance to win: red crocheted leggings, a red rosette hair clip AND $20 to spend as you please at A.O.kay!

Here's how to enter:

1. Follow our blog! Once you become a follower, just leave a comment below, telling what your favorite item from A.O.kay Designs is.
2. Follow Miskabelly (@miskabelly) on twitter…and again, just a quick comment to let us know you did (with your twitter user name) and share what your favorite item from  A.O.kay Designs is.

3. If you’re already following the blog and our twitter—simply leave a comment, telling us what your favorite item from A.O.kay Designs is!

4. Once we tweet about the giveaway, you can re-tweet to gain an extra entry!

Multiple entries are allowed (if you want to follow the blog, AND our twitter AND re-tweet  go for it!).  This contest will run through next Sunday, November 14th.  The winner will be chosen through a random number generator. 


Good Luck!!

Manda & Jayme