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