Monday Feature: BeautyRecycled

"I enjoy creating new jewelry from old and broken ones and from different materials. I also love going through people's unwanted beads stash to create some new jewelry. Recycling is a must in my life. I get my inspiration from walking in the woods, reading, music, people around me and a bit of TV when I have time."

http://www.etsy.com/people/BeautyRecycled

Creative Spaces with overDAcrib

Our first creative space feature, overDAcrib.

I really love Sandra's creative space. This shows how we can convert a piece of space in our homes to make it our creative getaway. I especially like how you can close the curtain and it converts to a guest room. 

This is a very functional & inspiring creative space. Thank you Sandra for sharing! Be sure to check out her awesome creations in her shop. 

www.overDAcrib.etsy.com

www.facebook.com/overdacrib

When we moved to the DC suburbs two years ago we agreed I needed a space to work.  The apartment is quite small, so finding a place to paint was a little bit of a challenge.  I wanted to make a place I could work but also interact with my six year old daughter and 1 year old son. I turned our "den", a 20' x 10' space into an art studio/ kid's homework and play area/ guest bedroom- ha! One wall I leave free and clear for photographing and the other wall I hang all my lights, camera, tripod and large easel. 

It works out great... I can paint away while my son plays on the floor and when my daughter gets home from school we can do homework and the baby colors (or scribbles).  When my in-laws are in from out of town, I simply slide curtains across my messy painting area and my children's cluttered play area, put down a mattress and viola- instant guest room!  

At night, when all the kids are down, I put on some Trevor Hall music and zone out with a glass of wine. It is very peaceful time to unwind, paint and be surrounded by my work. 

Monday Feature: BakeSweets

This Monday feature shop is BakeSweets. Alexandra is a stay at home mother of 3 wonderful boys. She enjoys baking, throwing parties and making crafts.

http://www.etsy.com/people/BakeSweets 

This is a very sweet shop that offers an assortment of colorful cupcake liners, paper straws, pastry tips & bags, cookie cutters, food coloring and much more. Helping you with a memorable party or baking experience.

Monday Feature: Cerra

 Cerra creates wonderful felt decor, accessories, toys and more!

“My felt goods are made with eco-felt, which means that you can reduce your environmental impact while supporting an independent artist. They make great gifts, toys and can also act as beautiful display pieces.”

http://www.etsy.com/people/Cerra

www.facebook.com/EtsyCerra

http://twitter.com/EtsyCerra

Monday Feature: nickeldesign

Mabel from nickeldesign is a work from home mom raising 2 boys; one is 2, the other is 4 years old. Mabel designs custom cards and invitations; there are many styles to choose from such as Alice in Wonderland, Where the Wild Things Are, Disney, Little Golden Books, Iron Man, Vintage Toys, and many more.

“My passion is to celebrate life creatively. I love all kinds of art, but my favorite kind to create are invitations to events that involve love, life, and family. To me, an invitation not only sets the mood for the event, but it is a warm welcome into someone's life.“

http://www.etsy.com/people/nickeldesign

 Contributed By:  www.industrialhippie.etsy.com

Monday Feature BabyEllieDesigns

Our featured shop for this Monday is BabyEllieDesigns.

 

BabyEllieDesigns is a busy mom to two girls. Her shop offers bright and colourful handmade baby items such as bibs,burp cloths, diaper cases and soother clips.

My Favs - - -  

The tote bag is up-cycled from a pair of curtains which are a light weight cotton canvas fabric with a flower design.

“My aim is to provide mothers alike the choice of funky, one of kind accessories for themselves and their baby. 

A little bit about me....I have been sewing for over 14 years. I first started making baby items when my first daughter was born and just love to be creative with fabric. I moved to Canada over 4 years ago with my Canadian born husband but I am originally from Merseyside England where all our family still live. We are huge Liverpool FC fans in our house. I'm a wife, a mother, a daughter, a sister, an aunt, a niece, a cousin, a daughter in law, a sister in law, and a best friend all in one person! I have two beautiful daughters, one great husband and a lovable Kerry Blue Terrier called Olly!”

From BabyEllieDesigns profile: http://www.etsy.com/people/BabyEllieDesigns

BabyEllieDesigns is a great one stop shop for unique baby gifts, the prices are great and so are the shipping rates.


Like BabyEllieDesigns on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BabyEllieDesigns

Contributed By: industrialhipppie: www.industrialhippie.etsy.com

Busy Mom Monday Feature: stitchin’netka

Our featured shop this Monday is stitchin’netka

"I'm a mother of four kids and can make my dream shop come to life on Etsy. I do love design for kids, they are my daily inspiration and set back at the same time.They make me want to make and create so many beautiful items, and at the same time need my full attention. But even thought they are with me 24/7 I still manage to find moments for my work. It is possible to be a mother and have time to have creative outlets. I think all women have a stunning power of balancing different forces and yes, my life might be the example of that. With love patience and persistence we can all change our dreams into reality."

Like stitchin’netka on Facebook 

www.facebook.com/Stitchin.netka

Follow stitchin’netka's blog

www.stitchinnetka.blogspot.com

Meet Jessica Beyer!

Rambling Rogue Reporter from Cassia's Garden airing our Spotlight Feature of another Busy Mom!
Speaking about rambling; my climbing roses are going bonkers here in Houston, and the loveliest jasmine is growing up the side of my 2 story home; if I open my bedroom window, the fragrance is absolutely divine! 

Off subject, (sorry!) so....here we go!  Shall we?

Busy Moms.....Meet Jessica Beyer!

Kelly:  Hello, Jessica, and thank you for joining me here today! Tell us, how young are you?


Jessica:  Hey Kelly thanks for having me! I am a youngun' 22 years old and a mother of a 3 year old.

Kelly: What is the name of your business?

Jessica:  Well I couldn’t think a good name so I just went with my name Jessica Beyer Jewelry. I didn’t know that the name that you choose as your log in name for etsy was going to be the name that they use for the web address and the name that everyone sees lol, that is jbeyer719!

Kelly:  When did you begin?

Jessica:  I started my shop on etsy last year in March and that was when I started to make jewelry and I look back now at what I was creating and I think to myself  "Wow, that looks horrible!"   HAHA But I have been crafty since I was a kid. My mom owned a beauty salon in a small town and I would make braided necklaces and sell them for a few cents or something and making other things like pinecone ornaments one year and this and that.

Kelly:  Do you have any background in business and/or  jewelry making?

Jessica:  I have no background in really selling but I get advice and I am learning as I go. I also have been interested in sewing by hand but never really got to do it. Sewing machines and I really don’t get along too well. I tend to break them. But my own designs that I do are kind of like sewing...

Kelly:  What motivated you to start Jessica Beyer Jewelry.   What inspires you to create?

Jessica:  I really don’t know what gave me the idea to be a jewelry designer but one day I told my hubby that I wanted to start making jewelry. But then I thought I would sell a lot but that really hit me in the face. And it got me really down, but my family, including Darren’s side really pushed me to keep it going.

I really don’t know what inspires me; to tell the truth, I just think up a design and do it. That’s just with my wire wrapped pieces but with my upcoming collection I love organic looking stones and natural beauty that I get from them. But I also love the facets elegant gems too. I love nature and being outside. Spring is my favorite time of the year because I can have the windows open and be outside all day and seeing new life come up all around me and tending to my plants. I am a country girl and I love the open fields but at the moment I am living in the city where my house is bigger than my yard…. And I have a small house!

Kelly:  I know what you mean about Spring and Gardens and open windows, Jessica!  What is your favorite product?

http://www.etsy.com/listing/43005742/cybele-copper-and-sterling-silver

Jessica:  My favorite products that I make are a few things 1. My skinny copper bangles because oddly I don’t wear a lot of jewelry maybe a simple necklace and those bangles so something that I can wear everyday and 2. The mothers necklace I made/making me and my sister-in-laws mothers necklace for mother’s day. Since I only have one kid right now it’s pretty simple.

Kelly:  What are the special Features?

Jessica: Handmade copper circles that has been wire-wrapped together with sterling silver wire to create an eye catching piece of art. This particular piece has two rows of two different size circles and from it being wire wrapped together is flexible and comfortable to wear.The width is a little over 1.25 inch and it is 8 inches long.  This is available in different metals.

Sterling Silver $162

Gold Filled $198

Well for one my wire wrapped bracelets and wreaths are my own designs I came up with them and the end technique that I use. I work with copper, sterling silver and gold filled in all of my items but with the pieces with gemstones I can do any stone that you want as long as I can find it. I don’t want to tell my secret to my wire wrapped bracelets and neckpieces but the special feature with that is after I get done wrapping the circles together I kinda lock it in place so the wrapping won’t come undone.

Kelly:   I REALLY like  your favorite too! What are your business goals this year?

Jessica:  My goals for this year are to get more people to know me and to get wholesale orders across the country. I would also love to expand my collections and attend public events. Also getting a really nice website up that I a fellow busy mom is going to do for me Grace Hester.

Kelly:   How do you get traffic to your website?

Jessica:  Well I am still learning but I try to promote in different areas like etsy forums and the chat room, and I am also getting new business cards, catalogs made and other items so I can pass them out and send out with orders. I have a discount that I would say that would be big but I do discounts for returning customers and referred customers. I’m not telling how much I get you would just have to find out by ordering LOL!

Kelly:  How do you juggle work/life balance? For instance, you have a young child. How do you juggle everything?

 Jessica:  I have a 3 year old girl and she is a handful but a pretty good mannered kid as long as I listen to her when she talks or she will tear up the house. So that is why my items are usually made to order because it takes so long to make my circles and to make them into a piece. It usually takes a day just to wrap the circles together and if I have the circles made I can usually make the pieces while I am outside with her but she hardly lets me do that.

Kelly: Can you share some of your frustrations?

Jessica:  I wish I could get what I want as supplies go but we don’t have enough money to get them. So I get upset that I have so many ideas that I want to do and also I would love to help pay for some of the bills so my hubby doesn’t have all the burden on him to make those payments so that is another big frustration.

Kelly:  What is the most valuable lesson you have learned?

Jessica:  Patience! And having the right tools for the job like packaging, business cards, ect….

Kelly:  What word of encouragement can you give a person who wants to also start their own business?

Jessica:  Well I am still learning myself but don’t give up stay positive and you can do anything that you put your mind to. I always follow that saying and I express it to other people.

Kelly:  Any other thing you would like to share with us?

Jessica:  Yes, for being a featured seller on this blog I would gladly give a discount for 25% off with free shipping.  Just email be at jessbeyer719@ymail.com or message me thru etsy to get a custom order. Remember that I can do different metals and stones if you want.

Kelly:  Jess, thank you so much for being here today with us!  Now ladies, why don't we go on over to these links and show our support for this great Busy Moms Team Member?   You go, Jessica! 

Jessica:  My website is http://jessicabeyer.shopping.officelive.com/default.aspx

Facebook (when i can sign into it) is http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?ref=name&id=100000464539611#/pages/Lancaster-OH/jb-by-Jessica-Beyer/177813513243?ref=mf
My blog http://jessicabeyer.wordpress.com/

Here are some more of Jessica's fabulous creations:

http://www.etsy.com/view_transaction.php?transaction_id=22372392

http://www.etsy.com/listing/44377178/amalthea-wire-wrapped-bracelet

http://www.etsy.com/listing/27308673/weekly-special-swirly-wirly?ref=v1_other_1

I just went on over to Jessica's blog and it is so cute!  I "followed her" and now I'm headed on over to her Facebook Fan Page!   You know, I've been reading so much lately about how we need a strong support base in order to be successful.   One of our core values on this team to to encourage and support one another.  To share ideas, network and purchase, use and share each other's wonderful products.  I am so proud of our team!  Rock on, ladies!

Until next week......Dream Big and Never Give Up and Go!

Don't forget.....convo me for your interview!

 Contributed By: Jessica Beyer Shop: Jessica Beyer

#FF! Facebook Friday...Meet Tricia Richner!

Ladies, do you all have your taxes done?   Yeah, I thought so. Well, after all the hustle and bustle, it's time for a wee break.  Grab your coffees, lattes, Blizzards, tea, or whatever refreshes you, and let's go down yonder to the Great State of Texas, my home also, and meet our Busy Mom of the Day......  Tricia Richner of Tricia Richner.    Shall we?

Kelly:  What is the name of your business?

Tricia:  It's a pretty boring name - Tricia16. I set up shop on etsy before realizing that shop names cannot be changed, and I was already a buyer using that name so I just went with it. Before I knew it, it was too late to change it.

http://www.etsy.com/shop/Tricia16

Kelly:  When did you begin?

Tricia:  May, 2009

Kelly:  Do you have any background in business or crafting?

Tricia:  In my previous life, meaning before kids, I worked in marketing in a variety of different capacities. However, very little of that experience prepared me for running this online business where blogging and so many forms of social (and electronic) media are prevalent.

Kelly:  What motivated you to start Tricia16.etsy.com?  For instance, what inspires you to create?

Tricia:  A few people I knew were opening shops and buying on etsy so once I decided to dive in, I knew where to go and was comfortable with the site. My original motivation came from a woman I met at a bridal shower who loved my gift to the bride so much (monogrammed note cards) that she convinced me to sell her some personalized cards and then once she got her own, encouraged me to pursue a "little business" for myself. She was very sweet and gave me the confidence boost I needed to open a shop at etsy.

The original product listing - Monogrammed Note Cards

http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=29822999

Kelly:  What is your favorite product?

Tricia:  My favorite product right now are the custom journals. I really enjoy working with each client to get the details exactly right and then the positive feedback I get once she has received it is very gratifying.

Design Your Own Wire-Bound Journal

Kelly:   What are the special Features?

Tricia:  Almost endless options on paper styles, embellishments and "look". I just designed a journal as a gift for a bakery in LA. It'll be used to keep notes and recipes. I just love that it'll be keeping company with delicious cookies.  I did it for "Sweet Cheeks" Bakery.

Kelly:  What are your business goals this year?

Tricia:  This is one of those questions that gets asked a lot at the beginning of a new year. Many of my teams had lengthly discussions about this as well. So, I did actually sit down and write out a lofty list of goals, some of which I will share here.

Promote on blogs

Build inventory

Participate in local craft fairs

Expand journal/diary styles

Kelly:  Those are great goals!  How do you get traffic to your website?

Tricia:  Blog, facebook, twitter, active on teams, comment on other blogs, pass out business cards

Kelly:  How do you juggle work/life balance? For instance, you have 4 children! How do you “do” all that you “do”?

Tricia:  I have 4 kids, ages 9, 6, 5 and almost 4. We also have a new puppy. As for balance, there is none. I wish I had something more positive and encouraging to say here, but this is an area of struggle for me. There are just not enough hours in the day to get everything done that I want to get done. I just do what I can and try not to get too frustrated.

Kelly:  Can you share some of your frustrations?

Tricia:  Not getting all that I want accomplished when I want it accomplished.

Kelly:  Me too!  (Busy Moms all echo....."Us, too!") What is the most valuable lesson you have learned?

Tricia:  I have really been inspired and blessed by the teams I am on; BusyMomsTeam and EtsyGreetingsTeam are very active and have been a wealth of support and encouragement.

Kelly:  What word of encouragement can you give a person who wants to also start their own business?

Tricia:  I'm still such a newbie myself that I am not sure I'd be much encouragement on this topic. As I said before, my teams have been super helpful to me so if I had to give one piece of advice it'd be to join a team and be active on it. You get what you put into it and there are some amazing and supportive people out there that are willing to help.

Kelly:  Any other thing you would like to share with us?

Tricia:  As a promotion for this blog - free mini note (my choice) with purchase. Just be sure to mention this in the "notes to seller " section upon checkout.

Kelly:  Well, ladies, that is it!  Tricia is on Facebook, she has a Facebook Fan Page,  she is also on Twitter, and she's "got her hands full" on her blog too!  Let's venture on over and show our support!  Also, she is taking part in the fabulous Busy Moms Team of Etsy Scavenger Hunt, so be sure to check her shop, get a few things, and find her hidden flower!

I've been looking around Tricia's shop, and I can tell you, she is an artist, and her designs are original, full of love, one of a kind, and very well put together!  Take for instance this one:

How Do I Love You? Let me count the Ways....

At $9.75, what an awesome gift!  Appropriate for our Moms, our children, our Dads, our spouses, but how awesome to use this to capture our affections for our children, while we are thinking of it; and to save it and give to them when they are older?   Tricia's work is very well done and put together with love and care and attention to detail.  I can tell that love guides her work every step of the way! 

This is what Tricia wrote in her description: 

Inspired by my kids' book, "How Do I love You?"

Written and illustrated by P.K. Hallinan

How do I love you?
Let me count the ways.
I love you on your very best. . .
and very worst of days.
I love to see you laughing
and dancing in the rain.
And even when you lose your shoes, I love you just the same.
I love to hear you singing.
I love to see you smile.

" To me, there is no greater love than the love I have for my children. I was inspired by these words to recognize that love by creating a place to record those precious ways we love them. "

 This 5x5 inch (12.7cm) notebook has solid and sturdy chipboard covers that are fully recovered with Stampin Up Designer Series Paper and matching textured card stock. Mitered corners. "Love" is die cut, layered in chocolate brown and pink. "How Do I Love You?" and "Let Me Count the Ways" is hand stamped in chocolate brown ink. Wire spiral bound notebook contains 100 lined pages.

Or what about this one?  Oh I love it!

"You" Upcycled, One of a Kind Journal

See her complete listing of personalized items at http://tricia16.etsy.com/.


See you next week, Busy Moms!  You are awesome, and every single one of you has a unique story, and it is worth telling and shouting out!  So, don't be shy, convo me and let's get YOU, fabulous You on the schedule today. 


Contributed By: Tricia16
Shop: Tricia Richner

Across the Pond and Over the Mountains....Meet Tracy Schaal!

Hi Ladies!  We all know how hard each other works, and I am here to tell you:  Let's take a wee break; it's time for our Friday Feature! Un-fasten your seat belts: we've reached a cruising altitude of 40,000 ft. Out your left window you can see the Alps......... and nestled down amongst the snow-capped grandeur you can see the city of Zurich.  To a tune of Eidelweiss, we will land in about 10 minutes.  Grab that cup of cha and enjoy the scenery for just a moment!

Where she lives...

I was intrigued by Tracy and so I asked her a few extra questions.   Knowing she is a fairly new team member, and one living "across the pond" as they say in Etsy, I wanted you to know just a little about her story.   And so, to celebrate Euro Week just a tad post-date, I bring you Tracy Schaal.

Yes, I did ask her if anyone else has ever told her that she looks like the fabulous Catherine Zeta-Jones.......oh yes!   This girl was born for glam it seems.   Let's read on...

"My husband and I moved to Zurich, Switzerland about 6 months ago from London, UK. I am Canadian-my mother is from the Philippines and my father is from Ireland. My husband is American. We move around quite a bit as my husband, Aaron works in International Tax. Communicating here is a challenge, as the locals speak in a non-written language called Schweizer-Deutch and read in High Deutsch (German). In many ways I wish we were living in the French side of Switzerland as I understand French much better (as French being one of the official languages of Canada).

I think the only thing I am homesick for are really the conveniences: late night shopping, multi-cultural foods and Sunday shopping--oh, and Mexican food! I also miss the ability to walk into a shop and speaking freely without sounding like a dip-stick in my raw-German! :o) In the cute little village we live almost no one speaks English!

However, for the time being we are set to stay here indefinitely. Switzerland is a very safe country with good schools and a low crime rate and is an ideal place to raise children--and that is what it all boils down to for us!"

That was free, but this is the interview.  Shall we?

Kelly:  Hello, Tracy, and thank you for joining me here today! Tell us, how young are you?


Tracy: I will be turning the big 4-0 this August. I’m SCARED!!

Kelly:  What is the name of your business?

Tracy:  I had no idea what to call it so I go by my name.  TracySchaal

Kelly:  When did you begin?

Tracy:  The Etsy shop was opened in June 2008 but I didn’t start putting anything in it until a year and a half later as I just gave birth and needed some time for things to calm down in the house.

Kelly:  Do you have any background in business and/or design?

Tracy:  I have a degree in Fashion and worked in the industry as a designer, merchandiser and illustrator on and off for about 10 years.

Kelly: What motivated you to start your shop, Tracy Schaal

Tracy:  Although I absolutely LOVE being a mama, I really missed creating and a friend of mine told me about Etsy and after looking at the site I got so inspired, I had to do something!

Kelly:  What inspires you to create?

Tracy:  I have been constantly making things my whole life, even as a child I was sketching clothing designs and trying to emulate my favorite fashion illustrators at the time. My current motivator though, has been reading about the atrocities happening to women and children in the world. I really felt the urge to do something and came to terms that the key to peace and poverty is by empowering women and girls, by educating and training them and giving them a future. That is why I support Women for Women International-helping women victims of war rebuild their lives. www.womenforwomen.org. I support them on a monthly basis and have set up my Etsy shop to help them by donating half my profits to their cause.

Kelly:   Tracy, I love your heart for this!  I just went onto the WomenforWomen Website, and that is so gratifying and wonderful to see this outreach into the 10/40 Window!  I know you will be rewarded for your heart of compassion!

Kelly:  What is your favorite product?

Tracy:  This is a hard one, because I don’t make anything I wouldn’t wear myself. My top two, however are my Monaco Bangle and my Black Tigress bangle which have both sold out but I managed to make one for myself, he he!

The other faves I have are my Skinny Sista Bangles in both copper and gold

 

and my La Tigress bracelet in nude color

What are the special Features?

All my items comes with complimentary giftwrap as featured in most of my pictures of each item.

I also try to make things easy with shipping, therefore ALL my items are shipped complimentary worldwide. Yes, you read right!

Kelly:   OMG, Tracy, that packaging is class act!   I have sought to have this extra special touch in my products too, and sometimes it is not easy to do!  Your packaging and your products positively ROCK.

What are your business goals this year?

Tracy:  This year, I really want to get the word out about the shop and making more items to fill it out a little more--oh, and yes, SALES!!

Kelly:  How do you get traffic to your website?

Tracy:  I lurk around the Etsy forums every once in a while and make the odd, posting. In February I joined the fabulous Busy Moms of Etsy team and that has made a big difference not only getting my name out but just the support alone is great—what a friendly and well organized group!

Kelly:  How do you juggle work/life balance? For instance, you have a small child.

Tracy:  I have a son, who will be 2 in April and who IS my day job! He is an only child but I tend to doubt myself as a mother everyday because it can be so exasperating! I don’t know how moms with more than one kid do it!! :o)

My husband gets a good laugh out of me because I am an incessant list maker. It also helps that my social life here in Switzerland is pretty bleak (being new here and all and not speaking the language!) so I have a lot of free time in the eves! :o)

Kelly:  Can you share some of your frustrations?

Tracy:  Not sure if frustrated is the word to describe it, perhaps just a little saddened that I’ve only got one measly (yet PRECIOUS!) sale. I kind of feel like the nerdy kid at the prom compared to so many other shiny sellers out there with billions of sales!

Kelly:  Your products stands out in a world of ordinary, Tracy!  I am sure sales will come when you reach your target market!  What is the most valuable lesson you have learned?

Tracy:  To restrain myself when it comes to sourcing craft supplies. I think I have a hoarding problem. There are far, far too many trimmings and not enough things to make them into—its just embarrassing, really! I suppose when the time comes when I pass away my husband can decorate my coffin with all my sequins, rhinestones, furry trims and countless over-the-top embellishments...

Kelly:   I do believe you are not alone in that regard!  I have stockpiles of cigar boxes, ribbon, sequins, mosaic tiles, sea glass too!  What word of encouragement can you give a person who wants to also start their own business?

Tracy:  Read everything you can about what business you are going into and talk to other designers who make what you want to make. Separate business from pleasure and spend ONLY what you can afford. If you are a shy person, reinvent yourself, especially when talking to buyers. Oh and sometimes its OK to say 'no' to a buyer--especially if they are a large chain or a department store--many of which take advantage of independent designers by demanding massive discounts, late payments and the reshaping of your own product--I'm speaking from experience there!

Kelly:  Any other thing you would like to share with us?

Tracy:Yes, I've got some new hand-painted patterned pieces that I'm the process of completing--really excited about how they turned out! Going to list them this week!

Also, if you're wondering who that gorgeous blonde woman is modelling my jewelry it's Miss Switzerland, Linda Fäh--who ended up buying some of my collection then and there at the photo shoot! So happy about that!

Lastly ---followers wanted!

Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/tracyschaal
Facebook http://www.facebook.com/pages/Tracy-Schaal-Design-Activism-LOVE/212592264970
 --yes, the nerdy girl needs fans!!
Blog: http://www.tracyschaal.blogspot.com/
My own website: http://www.tracyschaal.com/

Kelly:   Tracy, thank you SO MUCH for taking the time to let me interview you this week!   I am so blessed to meet with you and I love your heart for underprivileged women.   Your product and your packaging is elegant and "class-act".   One day I do believe you will be famous and I would love to meet you!   Don't be homesick too much and enjoy this time with your little boy and your husband!   And I hope that soon you will be able to "speak en de Deutsche" as it were!   I am amazed at your creativity!   One thing I have heard on Etsy that is crucial is to list and list often.   So that keep you visible in the stream of thousands of listings.

We will catch up with you and I personally will look for you in high fashion magazines as well!

Ladies, why don't we go on over to Tracy's Facebook Fan Page, her Twitter, and her Blog and show our support and cheer her on?   Maybe if any of us are lucky enough to have our products in shops where we think her things might be a fit Stateside, we could recommend Tracy Schaal as well?   Why Not?   Right now I can think of two boutiques in my own town who might be a fit for Tracy's fantastic high end accessories!

Remember, Ladies!  The roving reporter from CassiasGarden  want to interview YOU! Be sure to convo me when you can and I will send you the interview!    Until next week, Happy Easter to all the Busy Mom's Team!

Contributed By: Tracy Schaal

Shop: member's shop & http://www.etsy.com/shop/TracySchaalDesigns

Meet Amy Cox - Couture Diva from Rosella Claire

 Y'all!   Ya-eas ma'am, thazz the way we talk down 'roun these parts!  Our rambling reporter from CassiasGarden and our lovely guest today, Miss Amy Cox of Rosella Claire; we live near the bayous and our idea of fun is eatin' dem crawdads, yes!   Now, I wished I knew Miss Amy a little better, but I'm willing to wager that she has boiled a few in her lifetime, right, Amy?

 A pretty Busy Mom and what beautiful children!

 Did I see some of these children modeling their Mommy's creations?

So, with no more introduction, it's time for our Friday Spotlight Feature on one fine Southern Lady; a truly Busy Mom of three lovely children, a Doctor of Pharmacy in her previous life, and now a designer and creator of the lovliest children's pieces!  This shop is going somewhere!

Let's get to the interview.....

Kelly:   Hello, Amy, and thank you for joining me here today! Tell us, how young are you?

Amy:  I am 36.

Kelly:  What is the name of your business?

Amy:  Rosella Claire

Kelly:  When did you begin?

Amy:  Rosella Claire began September 2009

Kelly:   Do you have any background in business and/or sewing?

Amy: I am a Doctor of Pharmacy, so I have experience working in a business setting. My sewing had always been something I played at until recently.

Kelly:  What motivated you to start Rosella Claire? (rosellaclaire.etsy.com)

Amy:  I got an embroidery machine a few years ago when I quit working. At first I embroidered ready-made items, but I decided to branch out into making my own items, specifically clothing for my kids.

Kelly:  What inspires you to create?

Amy:  Obviously, I love to put boutique-style clothing on my children, and the seasons often inspire me to create things for them to wear.

 Kelly:   What is your favorite product?

"Fancy Feathers" Infant, Toddler, Girl Skirt

Kelly:  What are the special Features?

Amy:  Fancy Feathers is bright and free! Bird print by Alexander Henry paired with bold stripes is fun fun fun, and super swingy, too! Perfect for Easter and for springtime. Custom-made to your measurements, from infant to approximately girls' size 8. Elastic waist.

Kelly:   So cute!  What are your business goals this year?

Amy:  I would love to sell 100 items this year!

Kelly:  How do you get traffic to your website?

Amy:  I have a Facebook Fan Page, I am a member of several Etsy teams, and I like to make Treasuries.

Kelly:  How do you juggle work/life balance? How do you “do” all that you “do”?!?

Amy:   I have a toddler son and 2 daughters, whom I homeschool. We spend our mornings focusing on schoolwork, and I usually get some sewing done in the afternoons. I’ve also been accused of being “nocturnal”, because sometimes I pull all-nighters, especially when I get inspired. I can’t sleep if I start thinking about a project that I just “have” to do!

Kelly:   I can relate, I homeschool our 12 year old daughter and run my husband's construction office; all from home!  Whew!  It can be "interesting"!  Can you share some of your frustrations?

Amy:  Obviously, time management. I live in a rural area, and I don’t have access to a lot of supplies, either. It also gets frustrating when I list an item that I think is fabulous and the views and sales come very slow!

Kelly:  What is the most valuable lesson you have learned?

Amy:  I have learned that you really have to stay at it, your business, that is. You have to pay attention to it everyday, tweaking it and keeping it fresh.

Kelly:  What word of encouragement can you give a person who wants to also start their own business?

Amy:  Well, in addition to the above, do something that you love and are truly passionate about. Burnout still happens, but you always want to go back to it.

Kelly:  Any other thing you would like to share with us?

Amy:  I don’t try to sell anything that I haven’t already tried out on my family or friends. The items in my shop are things that I would put on my own children!

I can still get your orders to you by Easter if you order by FRIDAY MARCH 26th.

TWO NEW ITEMS ARE BEING OFFERED AT SPECIAL INTRODUCTORY RATES FOR A LIMITED TIME ONLY: Tiny Tulip Jumper and Rosy Roo Sundress

Right now my featured items are Spring Sweetie, Tweedy Pie, and

Buy 2 Get 1 Free Skirts

I also have a Buy 1 Get 1 Skirt ½ Off sale

Kelly:  Well, can I vote right now?    I have looked all through your shop and I simply ADORE this dress!  The GREAT thing about it is.......Amy is offering this dress at a special introductory rate right now!  Just look at this adorable dress.........and it is custom embroidered as well! 

Spring Sweetie Infant/Toddler Jumper-3 mo.- 4T

Kelly:   Amy, thanks so much for taking time out of your busy day and this busy Easter Season to chat with us today!  We all wish you more than 100 sales this year and the expansion of your business!   You have a wonderful product and obviously a love for children!   To me, that is a Win/Win situation!   Blessings upon your business!

That concludes our interview and Ladies, there are still lots of Fridays to Spotlight Your business too!   We always post them to this blog, other ladies blogs, our Facebook Fan Page, and Grace tweets about 'em too!  So don't be shy!  Convo me so I can send you your interview today!

Contributed By: Amy Cox
Shop: http://www.etsy.com/shop/rosellaclaire

Meet Shannon from Random Sacks of Kindness!

TGIF Ladies!   It's Friiii-Day!!!!   I don't quite know what I'm yippee-ing about; during tax time every day is a work day for me!  But hey, who is complaining?  Not I!   The brown, dry bleak wintery ground here in Texas has turned Bright Bright Green just in time for St. Patrick's Day!  It's so beautiful out there all I wanna do is go to Lowe's, by tons of plants and get to digging and planting and making everything beautiful in my yard!

Today, we have a lovely lady from California; by the beautiful Pacific Ocean!  Oh, I love Central California!   I would like you to meet Shannon, from Random Sacks of Kindness.  

She is truly a Busy Mom and quite colorful too, as we will see in a bit.   So, grab your Jelly Donut (@joycharde) or your tea, or your coffee and let's see what Shannon has been "whipping up" at her WAHM headquarters!

Kelly:  Hello, Shannon, and thank you for joining me here today! Tell us, how young are you?

Shannon:  Hehe, young…. I’m 39 years young, a wife, and mom of 4 kids or 5 if you include my husband ;).

Kelly:  What is the name of your business?

Shannon:   The name of my business is called Random Sacks of Kindness.

Kelly:  When did you begin?

Shannon:  I started last May when I realized how many plastic zip bags I was putting into my kids lunches and how many were not coming home! There had to be another way. So I investigated a fabric that I could use as a liner and went from there.

Kelly:  What motivated you to start  http://www.randomsacks.com/ ? What inspires you to create?

Shannon:  My kids, the idea of being green and reducing our carbon footprint. I really push recycling in our home and using products that are earth friendly. We have a garden each year and compost our yard clippings.

Kelly:  Do you have any background in business and/or sewing?

Shannon:  I worked in retail through college…then worked in the corporate environment before staying home with my kids. I have been sewing since I was 11. My mother taught me. My favorite thing to do is make awesome Halloween costumes.

Kelly:  What is your favorite product?

Shannon:  Kabuki Japanese Ladies Sandwich and Snack Bag Set of 2, Resusable  http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=42340492

I love this set because is is so colorful!

Kelly:  OH MY GOSH, that is So Cute!  I have to have that!  What are the special Features?

Shannon:   The snack bags are reusable… can be washed and dried with your kitchen towels. They have a waterproof liner so I can put things like grapes in the bags.

Kelly:  What are your business goals this year?

Shannon:   My goals this year is to achieve a total of 300 sales in my Etsy shop and just to get out there more… Get people interested in reducing the amount of plastic waste.

Kelly:  How do you get traffic to your website?

Shannon:   I have business cards, attend craft faires, hand out in the virtual lab on Etsy, and use social networking sites.

Kelly:   Yes, here are Shannon's Blog and Facebook Links:

 www.randomsacksofkindness.blogspot.com/

www.facebook.com/RandomSacksOfKindness

Kelly:  So, how do you juggle work/life balance? For instance, 4 growing children and a husband. How do you “do” all that you “do”?!?

Shannon:  I have to do a lot everyday… taxi kids to/from school, make lunches, volunteer in the classroom, all the mommy chores…and then work on my shop. I mainly sew in the afternoons when kids are at school and then at night after bedtime. It’s tough sometimes, but worth it.

Kelly:  Can you share some of your frustrations?

Shannon:  My frustrations are not being patient. I hate waiting. (lol) But I do take it one day at a time, because I have to .

Kelly:  What is the most valuable lesson you have learned?

Shannon:  You know, I’m not sure yet… my business is still very new. I’m just trying to keep at it and keep the house in control (ha!).

Kelly:  What word of encouragement can you give a person who wants to also start their own business?

Shannon:  Patience.

Kelly:  Any other thing you would like to share with us?!

Shannon:  My products are featured in the Local Collection store in the Glendale Galleria in California. It’s very exciting to have a retail store presence. I hope to just get out there more! I am also working on some Alice in Wonderland inspired snack bags.

Special Offer: Anyone who orders something from now through the rest of March (3/19-3/31) will be entered into a drawing for one of my reversible grocery/shopping sacks! For more details, check my Facebook Fan Page:    Here are the details!  Good for the planet, handy for you!!Pocket measures 7in/18cm X 5in/13cm.

Environmentally conscious bags!

Grocery/Shopping Sack

This is a beautiful grocery sack and is reversible!

Carry this to farmer’s market, grocery store, etc…

The sack has a pocket for holding your shopping list or coupons!

The sack carries 0.67 cubic feet of stuff. I have 2 large boxes of cereal,

3 boxes of rice, a box of something else, 2 cans of Chef. That just filled

the bottom of it... you could still add lighter stuff on top!

It measures 17in/43cm tall (including handles), 12in/30.5cm wide and 8in/20.5cm deep.

Kelly:   Here are some more Great Products that Shannon produces: 

http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=42121138

http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=42990731

Kelly:  Shannon, I can tell from these great pics that your work is very high quality, durable, and totally relevant to the eco friendly consumer products market!   I love your use of color, the subtle sense of humor, and the workmanship!   We all at the Busy Mom's Team wish you success above your wildest dreams!  And, I absolutely Have to have the Kabuki; but now I see these ants I am torn!

Why don't some of us ladies go on over to RandomSacks's Blog, Facebook Fan Page and Shop and see what we can do to encourage, support, cheer on, refer and even buy?   She has a great product!

That concludes our Friday Spotlight Interview!  Ladies, I am going rogue looking for more lovely Busy Moms to Interview!   Please check out this link to let me know that YOU are ready to increase sales, exposure to your shop, and new friends today!  

Toodles!

Contributed By: Shannon
Shop: http://www.etsy.com/shop/RandomSacksofKindnes