This week, I’d like to introduce you a great eco-friendly designer from Norway, Unni Strand. The girl does everything! From up-cycling, organic gardening, mom extraordinaire and a great teacher who inspires her students to be more earth friendly and eco-conscious.

Tell us a little bit about you.

My name is Unni Strand, I live in Norway, have two children (18 and 4), a partner and a cat. I feel fortunate. And of course, I am!
I live close to the wood and not far from big cities. (OK, I know that’s relative, since Norway’s biggest city is Oslo and have only 550 000 inhabitants…)
I love chocolate, eggplant, cats, hens, latte, flowers, printing, sewing and spring. And I truly care about the environment!

I run two Etsy shops: Strand Redesign where I recycle old fabrics with screen printing and sewing and Unni Strand where I sell t-shirts upcycled with new prints.

strandredesign.etsy.com

So you live in Norway, Tell us a little bit about your country.

I asked my son to help me with this one. He says: “We think we have a lot of snow, but we don’t. And it’s cold and awful.” And I guess it is partly true, if you don’t dress well. But with the right clothing you could have a great time outside with the children in winter. And summer is occasionally warm and lovely. We sometimes even have real heat periods. I am proud to tell that I grow peaches and grapes in my garden.

What prompted you to pursue a sustainable/green lifestyle?

I have been trying to figure out where my environmental obsession started. Besides living near nature and coming from a family of gardeners, I think it might have started with the book The ark of Barbapapa (Annette Tison and Talus Taylor) I had as a child. This book discusses pollution in terms children can relate to. In short: The Barbapapa’s saving the animals, then the humans fixing the world. In the book, the world is getting more and more grey as people pollute and they also chase the animals. The Barbas come to rescue, build a spaceship and take all the animals away to a green planet. After a while, the people start to miss all the animals, clean up the world and plant trees and flowers. –Finally, all the animals return.

” I really loved the drawing of how nice the world looked when it was cleaned up and replanted. Such an inspiration, and it gave me the hope that it really is possible!”

What are examples of things that you do in your everyday life reflecting an eco-friendly and earth conscious lifestyle?

I compost the food leftovers and other vegetable and fruit waste into nutritious soil for my garden. I keep a vegetable garden. –Have grown vegetables since I was 8 years old and had my own garden since I was 20.  And of course, only natural fertilizers and no spraying with pest control.

heirloom potatoes from my garden

Everyone should grow some vegetables! In their garden or a container or whatever they have! There is too little food in the world and too much unused land.

I save gift wrapping paper and ribbon from presents we receive and reuse it. I use the lawn movings for mulching in flower and vegetable beds. –It keeps weeds away and provides fertilizing.
I try to buy locally grown or organic food. I try to drive as little as possible, but this is really the hardest part for me since I work far from home.

I try to make as many of my presents myself. The habit I am most proud of is that I have started to use only reusable shopping bags whenever I shop. (My partner doesn’t, so we still have plastic bags for the garbage…) The hardest part was to get used to always keeping the totes in my handbag. And of course, I use my own recycled shopping totes!

What do you do professionally? And how do you incorporate sustainability in your work?

I am a teacher, teaching art and design subjects in high school. When I talk about design or materials science, I always incorporate sustainability and fair trade. I think my students actually might be a bit fed up with this. It really surprises me how little they know and care about these issues.

In my redesign business, I reuse fabrics and I use only recycled shipping materials.

As a designer, what is your design philosophy? What inspires you?

I love to work with textile. And I have a need to create. Sometimes I am too creative for my own good and cannot sleep for all the ideas I have.
I do screen printing and redesign. I want to make new favorite objects out of old, unloved fabrics or clothes! I want to make shopping totes that make people want to use them instead of plastic bags. And I want my up-cycled t-shirts to be so cool that people prefer them before new tees.

unnistrand.etsy.com

I am inspired by nature, mostly flowers and animals. I like it if I can make my designs express a hint of humor. Before, when I did weaving I also aimed for that humor bit, but believe me, it’s far easier with printing than with the loom!

While pursuing a sustainable lifestyle, do you have any books/magazines/websites etc that you recommend where one can find info on how to incorporate eco-friendly options in our day to day life?

Etsy has opened a new world to me with lots of handmade and redesign. Team Eco Etsy has a great blog!

Who do you listen to currently? Favorite bands?

I want to share some great Norwegian artists with you!
Donkeyboy comes from the area where I live. They are quite new and have had a hit in Norway the last months. If you follow this link, you’ll hear their great song Ambitions:
http://www.myspace.com/soundberg

I like punk, and we have this great Norwegian punk singer, Ida Maria.  You can listen to her here:
http://www.myspace.com/idamaria

And then we have the calm and masculine band, Madrugada: http://emi.no/madrugada/

What is the last book you read?

Divas don’t knit, by Gil McNeil. -A lovely book where knitting and knitting recipes play a natural part. I can’t wait to read the follower.

In 10 years, where would you like to be?

I would love it if I could make a consistent income from my designs! I hope to be able to work part time with this. But I do need my teaching too! I love working with the students!

Thank You, Unni!! You can visit Unni at the following places: blog, fb page, strandredesign, and unnistrand

XoXo,

Kristina

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This weeks featured Etsy Mama is Kim Voigt, the owner of…

Giveaway Alert!

Visit our  Mermaid Charms Giveaway for a chance to win one of Kim’s extraordinary pieces!

MF: Tell us a little bit about yourself.

KV: I grew up in Southern California and could not imagine living anywhere else. I often use my surroundings as inspiration…the beach lifestyle is a wonderful way to live your life. I married my college sweetheart 18 years ago and I am a mother to 3 boys that I affectionately refer to as the Tribe. Needless to say, there is never a dull moment in my house. I often use my time to create as a way to escape all the madness and testosterone.

MF: Obviously you came up with the name of your shop,  Mermaid Charms, because of your love for sea glass. I read in your bio that you have been fascinated with sea glass since you were a child. Do you remember when you started incorporating your hobby into a business?

KV: I actually started collecting sea glass as a way to keep my children busy. We have spent countless hours walking up and down beaches looking for that perfect piece and each one of us has a favorite color…mine is aqua. Sea glass designs are the foundation of  Mermaid Charms. When I started my company I primarily focused on designing jewelry with sea glass only but over time I have grown to love using other materials as well. Sterling silver, semi-precious stones and a product called Precious Metal Clay have become a part of my regularly used materials. My vision for my company is to create jewelry that makes people remember a great vacation , a simple walk on the beach, and the lazy days of summer.

MF: Aside from the beach, where do you find your inspiration? Do you have a favorite vacation spot or a town you like to visit when you need tap into your creativity?

KV: As a family, we have spent a lot of time on the Hawaiian Islands. The carefree, fun atmosphere is always a perfect place to get the creative juices flowing and the islands have some wonderful beaches in which to find sea glass. I also enjoy visiting Northern California as well. I guess any area that has the potential to find sea glass is the place for me. My husband is entertained by the fact that our vacations are planned around the hopes of striking it rich with sea glass finds.

MF: Do you have a favorite piece from your collection? If so, is there a reason it’s your favorite? Whether it’s the colors, the shape or a story connected to the piece?

KV: If I find a piece of perfectly smoothed piece of aqua sea glass on one of my beach walks then my day has been made. Reluctantly I sold my favorite piece this year. It was aqua, “leaf” shaped and flawless . I found it in Monterey CA on a family vacation. I secretly wished the necklace would never sell … but it did. Happy to say that it went to a very nice grandmother in my town.

MF: I know that when it comes to something as personal as jewelry, it’s hard to create a style that everyone could wear. Do you recommend one piece that you think is universal? Something that could be a staple in every woman’s wardrobe?

KV: I think  sterling silver looks fabulous on everyone and can be worn with anything. In my opinion, you can dress it up or down. A great necklace can really make a statement. I have recently started to solder my own silver which has opened up a whole new level of creativity for me. I am hoping to showcase some of my new sterling silver designs in the very near future.

MF: I see in your shop that you use a lot of PMC in your designs along with the sea glass. Can you explain what PMC is to our readers? What other materials do you enjoy using?

KV: Precious Metal Clay, aka  PMC, is silver suspended in a binder and water which looks like clay. An artist shapes, molds, adds texture or stamps this clay then fires in a kiln and the end result is a piece of jewelry that is 99.9% pure silver. I love the organic qualities this material produces. Every piece is different and the little imperfections are what gives each piece character. I also love using semi precious stones. My favorite right now is Carnelian which is orange in color and is classified as a chalcedony stone. I love pairing it with peridot or apatite gemstones….very fresh and summery.

MF: Aside from Etsy, do you sell your jewelry at any shops or markets? If yes, where can the locals find you?

KV: I currently have some of my designs in a cute soapsmith boutique in San Clemente CA called  Erba.

MF: Do you welcome custom orders?

KV: Special orders are always welcomed.

MF: Do you have any advice for other women who are considering starting their own business?

KV: Be patient and understand that there is a lot of work involved in starting your own business. It is a challenge to find the perfect balance between family and business. I may never find that perfect balance but I plan on enjoying every second of this journey. My children are still young so they are my first priorty. But as they grow I hope my business does as well.

MF: Where can our readers find you? Share your links with us…Twitter? A Blog? An Etsy team?

KV: Sure! Here are some of the places I can be found online -

• Facebook Fan Page
• Mermaid Charms
• Twitter

MF: I’ll have what she’s having! You’re sitting on a quiet beach just relaxing for inspiration, what summery cocktail are you sipping on?

KV: A Mai Tai of course!

What’s in Store?

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**Be sure to check out the Squares of Flair Giveaway  here on Mom Fuse!**

Meet Emily

MF: Hi Emily, Could you tell us a little bit about yourself and your shop?

E: My name is Emily and I am 38. I am a busy mom to boy/girl twins who are in the second grade and a son who is 5. I have been happily married to my college sweetheart for almost 14 years now. We moved to a small suburb of Boise, Idaho almost 4 years ago, but are originally from Portland, Oregon. I used to work for a dot.com and then my twins came along and I’ve been home with them ever since.

Last year I wanted to make a photo pendant of my children so I researched Scrabble tile jewelry online and learned how to make one. My friends loved it and told me that I should sell them. So in October I started Squares of Flair, squareofflair.etsy.com, and it has been a lot of fun!

MF: What are the inspirations for your designs?

E: I love graphic and bold patterns, yet I am one to always wear solids. I find a Scrabble tile with a pop of color or pattern is just right to accessorize an outfit. I have always enjoyed scrapbooking and various papers so naturally I use a lot of those in my designs. I also adore photography of children and my products allow people to wear them in a new and different way.

MF: In your opinion, what makes the items you sell unique?

E: Scrabble tile jewelry has really taken off on Etsy these days. There is a lot of competition! I do find that my bookmarks, charm bracelets, rings and custom photo items are unique and more difficult to find.

MF: Which items have been your best sellers?

E: The custom photo bookmark and pendants have both been extremely popular. Also, anything with birds or owls on it sells well.

MF: Do you welcome custom orders?

E: Absolutely! I love to create things for my clients. Recently a customer wanted a clever gift for her cousin who was getting married. He would not accept money and would only accept recycled items. She came up with a keychain from a scan of a dollar bill that says “Eye Do.” It turned out really cute and these are the kind of projects I love! I also worked on an order for a wedding party where I scanned some vintage fabric in and made pendants with each of the bridesmaids initials on the back. They were very special and unique. I have also designed some beautiful charm bracelets that combine photos and a child’s artwork that are very special and sentimental. Another creative gift idea I did for a client was to turn her cousin’s ultrasound image into a ring. She gave it as a shower gift and it was a big hit!

As far as custom photo items go, I can make pendants, keychains, rings, charm bracelets, and bookmarks with your photo or child’s artwork.

I also love to work with clients on fundraisers. Recently I did a fundraiser for the YMCA Strong Kids program in which I created a tile with the definition of the word “strong.” I’ve also done a fundraiser for a school and the MAGIC Foundation. Send me an email if you want to develop something for your organization.

MF: Do you have any advice for other moms interested in starting their own business?

E: It is a lot more work than I ever expected it to be! It is wonderful to be working from home so I have the flexibility to put work time in when it fits my schedule, but also, there is that feeling that there is always something that needs to be done. It just never goes away and it makes it difficult to relax. It is important to set a schedule and keep to it and make time for family (and myself) as well.

MF: Are you offering any “special edition” items for any upcoming holidays/seasons?

E: Mother’s Day and Father’s Day are fast approaching! I am starting to list some new Mother’s Day pendants this week with sayings such as “World’s Best Mom, Mama Rocks, Super Mom, Super Grandma” that can also be turned into bookmarks or keychains. Of course, all of my custom photo items make wonderful Mother’s Day gifts!

For Father’s Day I will be introducing cuff links and bookmarks and keychains are great for those Dads and Grandpas, too.

MF: What are your “words to live by”?

E: Live. Laugh. Love. – That just says it all!

MF: Do you have any other link besides etsy that you would like to share with our readers?

E: I do, I have a Facebook page and I offer a special promotions for fans including a Mother’s Day promotion for free shipping coming soon! You can also find me on Twitter – @squaresofflair

What’s in Store

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Meet Sueanne

MF: Hi Sueanne, Can you tell us a little bit about yourself and your shop!

SS: I’m 45,(thank you Creme de la Mer, and Mom) born in PA, raised in Indiana, and moved to NY when I transferred colleges. I have a BFA from Pratt Institute in Brooklyn. I was a magazine art director until kid #3, who I call Mini Me, came along. I live in a lovely little beach town on Long Island NY called Lido Beach. Married for almost 18 years to a man who supports my creativity & have produced 3 kids, ages 8, 12, and 15. They are in 3 different schools this year, elementary, middle, and high, so my life is a 3 ring circus and I am very fortunate that I tend to thrive on chaos. (I just noticed I’ve just mentioned “3″ 4 times in one paragraph!)

I only recently started to make jewelry when I took a class in my own art gallery (just a short but rewarding venture, wasn’t open too long due to the poor economy) less than a year ago and immediately got hooked. I’ve had 4 classes, the rest is self taught and gazing at the Sundance catalogs that arrive at my doorstep weekly.

I knew I was onto something when somebody bought a piece right off my neck when I was at the hair salon one day about 9 mos. ago. I opened my Etsy shop shortly after that. I offer colorful necklaces, bracelets and earrings using colorful semi-precious stones. I’m also a painter and show in galleries locally, but I don’t have very much art in my shop right now-I really need to get on that.

MF: What are the inspirations for your designs?

SS: I really love the feel of semi-precious stones on the skin and using juicy colors, color combinations, and wire wrapping. As I am a natural colorist I tend seek that element out first before anything else when I shop for stones, clothing, shoes, bags, art, you name it. I have several friends who I run things by on occasion. If they love it too, I know I have a keeper.

MF: In your opinion, what makes the items you sell..unique?

SS: They are unique because I basically just make what I would want to wear myself, and I tend not to wear overpowering jewelry. I think you should see the woman first, not the jewelry—the jewelry should just enhance the lovely features and coloring of the woman/outfit. You won’t see me creating any Wilma Flintstone type looks! I shop all over the world for my materials via the internet. I plan to take a metalsmithing class soon and create my own pendants as well.

MF: Which items have been your best sellers so far?

SS: Most of my sales have been offline, at the (2 for the moment) boutiques that carry the jewelry and at craft fairs. By far, the most colorful items in greens, blues, purples and lemons sell the best. Also my peace sign items have done well.

MF: Do you welcome custom orders in your shop?

SS: Absolutely. I like the challenge of creating just the perfect thing for somebody who has their own creativity!

MF: Do you have any advice for other moms/women interested in starting their own business?

SS: Do what you love and the money will come is something that has always worked for me in all phases of my career. Take it slowly and make out a plan, if not on paper then at least in your head. Be conservative with finances and avoid debt.

MF: Are you offering any “special edition” items for any upcoming holidays or seasons?

SS: No, but maybe I should….

MF: What are your “words to live by”? Any favorite quotes, poems, song lyrics, etc.?

SS: It’s cheaper than Therapy and a lot more fun! LOL – That works for a lot of things in my life, art, jewelry, running, yoga, etc.

MF: Do you have any other links besides your etsy shop that you would like to share with our readers?

SS: Yes, www.artistmothersgroup.com  is a group of women locally I hang out with, draw with and show with in galleries my new standalone site, opening this week is www.sueanneshirzay.com. I will keep the etsy site though.

What’s in Store?

Click any of the images above or the Etsy image below to visit Sueanne Shirzay Jewelry and Art!

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Meet Casey

MF: Tell us a little bit about yourself and your shop -

C: My etsy shop is an extension of my original website, www.kitchenwitchcookie.com, where I exclusively sell gourmet, ready-to-bake cookies, brownies, scones and biscuits.  I branched out to etsy this summer with my ready-to-bake line.  For the holiday season I experimented with offering my cookies and brownies already baked, which proved successful.  This inspired me to add items to my etsy site that I wouldn’t have any other avenue for selling, such as Vanilla Marshmallows, Whoopie Pies and Mini Creme-Filled Chocolate Cupcakes.  The response has been great!

MF: What are the inspirations for your recipes?

C: Chocolate has always inspired me.  If you look around my shop, you’ll see almost everything I sell is based on chocolate, somehow.  Right now I’m also really excited about creating vintage desserts.  Treats that we all had in our lunchbox, only my version is all-natural and fresh, which translates into really delicious, updated vintage snacks.  Check out the Whoopie Pies and Mini Cupcakes and you’ll see what I mean.

MF: In your opinion, what makes the baked goods you sell unique?

C: Everything I offer–whether at etsy, my original website, or to my local customers and retail outlets–absolutely everything is all-natural and contains nothing artificial, no preservatives and NO HYDROGENATED OIL or HIGH FRUCTOSE CORN SYRUP.  Plus, my ready-to-bake line is unique, as I offer not only pre-scooped cookies, but pre-cut scones and biscuits, and brownies in pans, all ready to pop in the oven at a moment’s notice.  I am the only retailer I’ve found who offers such a wide assortment of gourmet, ready-to-bake treats.

MF: What items are your best sellers?

C: During the holiday season, the Vanilla Marshmallows sold extremely well.  Now that Valentine’s Day is approaching, the Heart-Shaped Fudge Brownies and Mini Creme-Filled Chocolate Cupcakes (in a candy box) are popular, as are the Whoopie Pies.  I have a feeling, if winter stays as cold as it has been around here, that the Vanilla Marshmallows will continue to attract orders!

MF: Will you be selling any special edition items for Valentine’s Day? Can your customers still place V-Day orders?

C: I have created Heart-Shaped Fudge Brownies for Valentine’s Day, as well as the Mini Creme-Filled Chocolate Cupcakes which are packaged in a 1 lb candy box and tied with a ribbon.  I will accept and send out orders through Wednesday of this week (Feb. 11), but the sooner that customers contact me with an order, the better chance that the order will arrive in time.

MF: Do you welcome custom orders?

C: Yes, of course!  Most of the time custom orders entail special ingredients.  For instance, I have a customer who was very interested in ordering my Mini Creme-Filled Chocolate Cupcakes, but wanted me to use Fair Trade Chocolate.  The great thing about etsy is that she had the opportunity to ask me directly, and I was happy to accommodate her request.

MF: Do you have any advice for other moms interested in starting their own business?

C: I think it’s important to find something that you really enjoy, not just something you hope will make money.  As moms, we are so invested in our children that we sometimes become lost in the task of parenting.  So, if you are going to start a business, I suggest doing something that really fulfills and recharges you, because ultimately it will help you be a better (fulfilled and recharged) mom!  And once you’ve decided to go for it, take some time to decide how to balance the roles in your life, because a business can become all-consuming as well.  Perhaps plan out a loose schedule of business time that fits within your day and doesn’t take too much time from your children.  For me that usually falls at night, when my kids are asleep, or when dad’s home to spend time with them.  Oh, and one last thing–reach out to other moms.  They are a great resource for ideas, support, babysitting and, in my case, taste-testing!

MF: Words to live by?

C: Leap and the net will appear.

MF: Besides etsy, do you have any other links you would like to share with our readers?

C: Just my original website, offering gourmet, ready-to-bake cookies, brownies, scones and biscuits: www.kitchenwitchcookie.com

Sweet Bonus: Mom Fuse readers can now receive 10% off all their Kitchen Witch orders! Simply convo Casey and she will adjust the price.

What’s in Store?

Kitchen Witch Cookie

Posted by Nicole Ibarrondo, former editor here at Mom Fuse

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Meet Tracey

T: My name is Tracy Owens Chasteen and my Etsy shop of jewelry and accessories is Polished Two.

Outside of my crafty endeavors and work with my Etsy shop, I have an office job working in business development. When I take time off from work, I love to travel, shop for vintage treasures, attend bead shows, and spend time relaxing with my family and friends in the Texas Hill Country.

I was inspired to start my Etsy shop after making jewelry for friends, family, coworkers, and everyone I knew. I was having little trunk shows, but I still needed another venue. Etsy is amazing because it has given me worldwide exposure. It is a wonderful community of artisans and such a great place to shop! My shop includes many one of a kind designs with porcelain pottery shards as well as a wide selection of bold and whimsical accessories to add a little fun to your wardrobe.

MF: What are the inspirations for your designs?

T: I’m often inspired by shopping trips, especially a long day at a big flea market. I have to bring a notebook with me! I’ll see lots of great vintage materials and find inspiration in their history. I have to jot things down so I’ll remember how I want to use them when I get back to my studio. I love working with vintage buttons and jewelry parts – giving them new life in a modern piece of jewelry. The quality of vintage materials makes them great for recycling into new designs. I really like to mix old and new, so I’ll combine vintage parts with new materials to get my latest inspired designs. I also get inspired by the chaos of life. Some of my best necklace designs have sprung from a wild mix of orphan beads on my desk after a long, busy week when I haven’t put everything away. It may look like a mess to someone else, Ibut I tend to find the most interesting and unexpected color combinations in an intermingling, wild pile of beads!

MF: In your opinion, what makes the items you sell unique?

T: A lot of my favorite items are the one of a kind pieces, like pottery shard necklaces. I may never find the same two pottery shards, so the necklaces are truly unique. This if often the case with some of the rings I make, as well. I love that an orphaned clip-on earring from grandma’s long-forgotten jewelry box can be given new life as a kitschy cocktail ring. The great thing about shopping at my etsy site or many of the other etsy shops is that you can define your style without buying what everyone else has from a big box store.

MF: What items are your best sellers?

T: My best sellers are my pottery shard necklaces and earrings, as well as my wire earrings and nearly any jewelry with birds. Here are some examples -

Flourish Ming/Ching Dynasty Pottery Shard Necklace

Wireball Earrings from Polished Two

Momento Heart Shaped Locket

MF: Do you welcome custom orders?

T: Yes, I definitely welcome custom orders. I have several repeat customers who come back to my shop when they have an idea for something they want. It is great to turn their ideas into something wearable and unique. I also welcome wholesale inquiries from boutiques that like to specialize in handmade goods.

MF: Do you have any other link besides etsy that you would like to share with our readers?

T: I’m on Twitter as http://twitter.com/polishedtwo. I have a blog, but I haven’t updated it in the past six months as my etsy shop has really taken off…and I felt like I didn’t have anything that interesting to write about. Most often, time is the issue! I like to get my etsy orders out within 1-2 business days and I make that a priority. You can also find me on MySpace at http://MySpace.com/polishedtwo and Flickr at http://Flickr.com/polishedtwo. Feel free to add me as a friend on any of these sites and you’ll see my latest jewelry designs as they’re made.

MF: Last but certainly not least, will you be our Valentine?

T: I would LOVE to be your Valentine!

What’s in Store?

www.polishedtwo.etsy.com

Posted by Nicole Ibarrondo, former editor here at Mom Fuse

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Meet Jamie

My name is Jamie (AKA Creations by JAE), and my passion, my obsession, is beading. I started when I was 10 stringing seed beads on fishing line, making daisy chains. My best friend’s mom had started making anklets, so my friend and I did too! There wasn’t a lot available at that time, so that’s all I ever knew about. I lived in small town Missouri, and Wal-Mart didn’t exactly have a selection of beads! No internet at that time in homes either, so I was stuck making lots…and lots…of daisy chains.

Fast forward 16 years, and WOW, there’s so much more that you can do! I’ve been working on jewelry for 16 years now, off and on. Mostly off, until about 4 years ago, when a coworker’s handmade Swarovski bracelet inspired me to jump back into the craft. I love the sparkle and texture of different beads, gemstones, glass, crystal. The way they hang on a cord. I just love jewelry!

Now, I want to learn so much more. I hope to get into silversmithing and more complicated beadweaving at some point in the future.

Read my story on Rena Klingenberg’s ‘Home Jewelry Business Success Tips’ at www.home-jewelry-business-success-tips.com/how-making-jewelry-saved-me.html

I am a member of an exciting Etsy team named eSMArts. I am the Marketing Director, plus I handle membership approvals and am an Etsy Liaison for the team. Check us out, we truly are amazing! Our team store is www.esmarts.etsy.com and our blog is www.esmarts.blogspot.com

Also, I have taken the Handmade Pledge. Visit www.buyhandmade.org to find out about it!

Visit my shop at www.creationsbyjae.etsy.com, my blog at www.creationsbyjae.blogspot.com and my website at www.creationsbyjae.com for lots of eye candy, great stories, and more about me!

What’s in Store?

www.creationsbyjae.etsy.com

Posted by Nicole Ibarrondo, former editor here at Mom Fuse

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Meet Kim

MF: Tell us a little bit about yourself and your shop.

K: I am a SAHM to 4 monkeys. My oldest passed away when she was 8 months old. I have since been blessed with a son and two daughters. I learned how to sew because of them. They needed clothing, so I started sewing it. I make pillowcase dresses and ring slings. Eventually I may add more to the shop, but for now, that is what I have time for.

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MF: What are the inspirations for your designs?

K:I love things that last a long time. I can’t stand when clothes wear out in the first season of use. So, I wanted something that could be used for many years by the same child. My pillowcase dresses do just that. First, they are worn as a dress, then a tunic, then a shirt. Moms really appreciate something that is quality and will last a long time, I get that!

As for the slings, I am a huge advocate of baby wearing. I received a Maya Wrap ring sling when my oldest baby was born. I wore her in it all the time. I did the same with the next two. The one thing that bothered me was the shoulder cap would come up and dig into my neck. I knew that there had to be a way to fix that. So, I started playing around and came up with my design. I love my slings, and so do many other parents. They can be worn on either the right or left shoulder, and are really so comfortable.

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MF: What items are your best sellers?

K: My shop is relatively new, so I don’t really have any “best sellers” yet. However, I have had fabulous feedback with both the dresses and slings. (Let’s help her change that!)

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MF: Do you welcome custom orders?

K: I adore custom orders! I can usually get everything done and in the mail to the customer within one week.

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MF:  Do you have any advice for other moms interested in starting their own business?

K: Be patient. This is one of the hardest parts for me. I am not a patient person and I want everyone to know about me and buy from me YESTERDAY But, I know that if I am just persistent and continue making quality items, people will find out about me and I will have greater success.

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MF: Words to live by? (favorite quote, poem, lyrics, etc…anything you like!)

K: If you do what you have always done, you will get what you have always gotten.

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MF: Besides etsy, do you have any other links you would like to share with our readers?

K: I also blog at PrairieMama and am a contributor for the Rocky Mountain Mom’s Blog.

What’s in Store?

www.prairiemama.etsy.com

Posted by Nicole Ibarrondo, former editor here at Mom Fuse

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Meet Jodi

MF: Tell us a little about yourself and your shop….

J: I’m Jodi from jodimichelle.com and jodimichelle – the etsy shop.  My  husband and I have 2 kids ages 4 and 8 months and I stay home with them which is almost never dull.  Aside from being a mom and home
maker my passion is for creating community that reaches beyond the borders of the internet.  Taking all the interactivity online to the doorsteps and communities in which we live.

MF: What are the inspirations for your designs?

J: For the greeting cards my inspiration is just the photos I take on a   daily basis.  I love getting snail mail and when it’s a personal   greeting card it’s that much sweeter. I just try to envision what I would like to see in my mail box and then pick and choose from my archive of photographs to create new and exciting cards.  For the aprons and cloth cubes the inspiration is my kids.  If I try something new for them and like it, I’ll generally go over board and make too many and then have an immediate inventory for my shop.  I also crochet and my inspiration for those items are things that make everyday life easier.  A purse I want but don’t want to purchase, hats for our family, scarves … blankets and even stuffed animals.

MF: What items are your best-sellers?

J: It’s been the aprons thus far, but I’ve added a few new items which I think will be great sellers as well.

MF: Do you welcome custom orders?

J: Sure do!  The greeting cards especially – I can make mass quantities or just another set of 4,6,8 etc if that’s what is needed.

MF: Do you have any advice for other moms that are interested in starting their own business?

J: I have a love affair with etsy and often to etsy lists, giveaways and features on my website, www.jodimichelle.com, and I’ve come to find that one of the best things for a new shop owner is to have great photos. They need to be eye catching!!  I personally don’t like long shop messages because it often doesn’t look very good when you’re visiting a new shop to be bombarded with a huge wordy message – I’m hoping Etsy themselves comes up with another way to accomplish this message/welcome to new buyers.  And also – etsy is not a garage sale, don’t sell your tupperware here.

MF: Words you live by?

J: I have conflicting words to live by – “There’s no time like the present!”  And – “Tomorrow’s another day!”  Here’s why I love each philosophy so much, “There’s no time like the present” has been a pretty hard life lesson through a death of a parent.  Life is way too short to sweat the small stuff and to not take risks – the worst that can happen is you’ll fail and is failure really that bad?  Did you have fun doing it, did you learn something?  For “Tomorrow’s another day” I guess it’s not so conflicting because for me it goes along with
“Don’t sweat the small stuff”.  Do what’s important to you but don’t worry about everything.  I don’t know, I just find comfort in reminding myself that my problems aren’t the worlds problems and to keep my chin up – tomorrow’s another day.

MF: Besides your etsy shop, do you have any other links you would like to share with our readers?

J: My website is – www.jodimichelle.com and my etsy shop is www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5093327

More from Jodimichelle

Posted by Nicole Ibarrondo, former editor here at Mom Fuse

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Meet Kelly

My name is Kelly and I’m a full-time mom and stationery designer. I’m also a part-time nanny for my 12-month-old niece. Both my husband and I are former actors, political junkies, technophiles, and all-around creative/nerdy types. Both originally mid-westerners, we found each other on the west coast and lived on a boat in Seattle for several years before relocating to the Dallas suburbs in 2006. Our 3-year-old daughter is the most beautiful and hilarious person I’ve ever met.

I created Macaroni and Glue in 2007 as a means to establish some much-needed balance between my inner artist and outer homemaker. With my history in the performing arts, I was feeling a bit lost after two years of being at home and started looking in all directions for ways to express myself creatively. I totally embraced my inner Martha Stewart – learned to cook, tried all sorts of crafting techniques, made homemade toys for my daughter, etc. Paper crafts and stationery ultimately became a passion. I opened shop on Etsy in February 2008 and my work is now available internationally to boutiques and specialty shops.

I’m inspired by all things vintage and girly. My current obsession is turn-of-the-century illustrations and greeting cards from the 30s – 50s. I love to find beautiful vintage imagery, and then take it completely out of context to create something fun and modern. My daughter is also a huge source of inspiration – she teaches me how to look at the world in unique and quirky ways, which helps to keep the creative juices flowing.

As a designer, I use vintage and vintage-inspired art to create uniquely nostalgic stationery. My cards and invitations are crafted from textured and specialty card stocks, printed in small batches, and lovingly cut and scored by hand in my small Texas studio. Macaroni and Glue offers unique and special invitations, handcrafted greeting cards, and vintage-inspired blank note sets. In addition to the Macaroni and Glue stationery line, I also offer custom design services for individual and corporate clients who desire a one-of-a-kind stationery look.

My complete line is available in my Etsy shop – Macaroni and Glue. I also have selected pieces available at The Pear Project.

www.macaroniandglue.etsy.com

Posted by Nicole Ibarrondo, former editor here at Mom Fuse

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