Wednesday, September 21, 2011

Meet the Artist and Giveaway: Beth from sweetnaturedesigns

Are you sitting down? I've got some REALLY great news!
Beth from sweetnaturedesigns was kind enough to offer to send
one lucky winner a towel of their choice 

Cotton Kitchen Tea Towel - Magenta Gingham White Happy Flower
Buy it here
Beth sent me the towel pictured here. I think I looked twice at every item in her shop before deciding which one I wanted. I love them all! And it is even more gorgeous in real life than in the picture :) These items come wrapped adorably making them perfect for gifting....if you can bear to give them away! You'll see a few as we get to know Beth, but you are going to want to be sure and go check out sweetnaturedesigns to see the full collection!


Q: Tell us a little about yourself.
A: My name is Beth Tobey and I LOVE whimsical and quirky fabrics and house wares! I started out painting colorful and eclectic paintings, which I still try to find time for, but once I figured out how to make my fun tea towels and pillow covers, I decided to go for it. I work at home (yeah!) while my kids are at school but Mom-mode turns on at 3:00pm. My husband is awesome and has always been supportive of my artistic adventures.


Scarf  -  Cotton Jersey in Teal with Yellow Smile
Buy it here


Q: Your designs are smile-inducing, just my style! How would you describe YOUR style?
A: Do I have a style?? I love swirls, color, whimsical, and eclectic furnishings. I think a fun pillow cover or colorful kitchen towel can really brighten up a room and I don’t think you need expensive items to have a unique look in your home. Sometimes all it takes is a small pop of color. I like the little reminders on some of my items. Everyone should remember to SMILE at some point in their day!



Q: How did you get started on Etsy?
A: Once my youngest child started first grade, I decided to see if I could find a way to use my artistic skills while still being available at home. Etsy has been the greatest avenue for this adventure! I started out slowly, with paintings and cards, but I soon found my way into screen printing and textile design and now I can’t imagine doing anything else.


Q: Tell us a little about your process? How do the lovely items in your shop come to life?
A: All of my designs start from a drawing…no digital work from me! I prefer the hand-drawn look and I think it’s part of my signature style. Once I have the design the way I have imagined it, I turn it into a screen in which I can use over and over on all sorts of fabric. Luckily my Mom taught me to sew when I was little, so I am able to cut and sew all of the items in my shop. I started out buying pre-made towels and bags, but I decided to make it a point to create all of my products from scratch. I cut, sew, and hand screen print every single one of my items and I haven’t gotten bored yet. The sewing and ironing part of my job is actually pretty therapeutic. I will tell you, though, I have a huge pile of my family’s clothes that need to be ironed and mended laying in my work-room!


Apron - Grass Green Linen with Bicycle
Buy it here



Q: I understand you take custom and wholesale orders. Busy lady! How do you balance this with home/family life?
Natural Linen Purse with Black Bird
Buy it here
A: My family is awesome! I am blessed to be able to work from home in order to keep an eye on everything that goes on throughout the days, especially during the summer time. Since I have so many
different colors of ink and fabric choices I am happy to customize for those customers who have special requests. The wholesale business has really taken off, and it can be busy while I have to make 30 towels in just a few days. I have learned to plan my time wisely in order to stay on task. As a matter of fact, today I just decided I need to make a weekly schedule that includes housework as well as business work. The house and laundry won’t get clean by themselves and accounting isn’t my favorite part of the job, but all have to be a part of my daily plan.



Q: I am super jealous of your fabulous color matching skills. Your color combinations are so modern and refreshing. What is your secret?
A: I don’t really put much thought into it…for some reason I am just drawn to unusual combinations of color. I think having a background in painting helps, because you learn to see objects as various blocks of many different colors. A sky, for example, isn’t just blue…look closely…it’s filled with gray, yellow, purple, sometimes pink. I look to nature for ideas on how colors work with each other. Then other times I just use the closest tube of ink on hand!


Linen Tea Towel - Steel Gray with Be Happy in Yellow
Buy it here

Q: What are your future plans for your shop?
A: Well I have big plans to work on my website, my facebook page, and other networking sites, but I never seem to make the time! Maybe this is where my kids can help me? I have also joined other online stores, and now I just have to add my products. I found some fabulous blue and white striped fabric so I’m planning on making more pillow covers and aprons, too. I have too many ideas and not enough time! But I think that’s probably the case with everyone…



Pillow Cover - Life is Pretty Cool on Navy Blue Kona Cotton - 16 x 16 inches
Buy it here
Q: Any advice for new Etsians?
A: Find YOUR style and be confident! It can be daunting and scary to put yourself out there, but having the confidence in your product makes a huge difference. Try to learn from others, but don’t compare yourself to them. BE YOURSELF!


Inspiring! Okay readers, are you ready to get your giveaway on? Here you go!


How to Enter the Giveaway:
1. Follow this blog
and leave a comment here saying you did.


2. "Heart" sweetnaturedesigns or an item from their Etsy shop
and leave a separate comment here saying you did.

Don't forget to visit the Giveaway Page for other great giveaways :)


Fine Print:
Only 2 entries per household please
1 winner will be chosen September 30th at midnight PST
Winner will be chosen by random.org
Entries will be validated
Winner will be announced here
Winner will have 3 days to contact me, 
after which a new winner will be chosen
Must be 18 years of age or older to enter 

72 comments:

  1. Just beautiful!!

    I follow.

    marypres(AT)gmail(DOT)com

    ReplyDelete
  2. Awww ... those scarfes are lovely!

    GFC follower

    danaan at gmx dot at

    ReplyDelete
  3. i hearted their shop, they have a lot of cute stuff :)

    cornelia

    porcelina[at]live[dot]nl

    ReplyDelete
  4. I follow this blog through GFC and email

    mubinster at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  5. Hearted Sweet Nature Designs on Etsy

    mubinster at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  6. i'm your follower
    atunderi.lonka@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  7. Cute)
    GFC: Lulu
    I hearted the shop and one item I liked most as MelissaLulu
    redalepou(at)yahoo(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  8. I'm a follower. Thanks for another awesome giveaway! :)

    ReplyDelete
  9. What a cute shop! I hearted this item: http://www.etsy.com/listing/75280998/cotton-kitchen-towel-tandem-bike-in-red

    ReplyDelete
  10. I heart the entire shop. (houseofplush).

    kiddomsg at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  11. I <3 sweetnaturedesigns as GypsiesJewels

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  12. I follow your blog

    kjmillionie[at]gmail[dot]com

    ReplyDelete
  13. I am a blog follower!

    thecountryblossom at hotmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  14. I hearted the etsy shop! :)
    katy010305

    thecountryblossom at hotmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  15. I am already a blog follower via GFC.
    bcbeaveratheart@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  16. Follow you on GFC. Thanks!

    annabell_lee_dk (at) yahoo.com

    ReplyDelete
  17. Heart the shop.
    Name: SweepstakeLover

    annabell_lee_dk (at) yahoo.com

    ReplyDelete
  18. I am already a follower!

    alexipharmiccyanide@hotmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  19. I hearted both their Etsy and my favorite item (their blue plaid with orange anchor) on my etsy, UnderxThexSun

    alexipharmiccyanide@hotmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  20. I am a follower:)

    erinchris07 at gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  21. I hearted her etsy shop, very cute stuff!

    erinchris07 at gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  22. GFC : YulyaShenka
    juletchka78(at)hotmail(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  23. Etsy : YuliyaSh
    juletchka78(at)hotmail(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  24. Great give-away!
    Wonderful shop!
    I just followed Modern Typography!

    ReplyDelete
  25. Hearted Shop: SarahEC
    sarahandmike@hellokitty.com

    ReplyDelete
  26. Beautiful! The red and white towel would be perfect for my kitchen:)
    Please count me in, I follow your blog. Thanks for the chance!
    ap_lemos at yahoo dot com

    ReplyDelete
  27. I'm your newest follower! I heart all things ETSY!

    ReplyDelete
  28. "Hearted" sweetnaturedesigns
    beewbedard
    brendawitherspoon at hotmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  29. I Hearted sweetnaturedesigns. Her stuff is so cute!

    ReplyDelete
  30. I follow you on GFC as zaira_faith

    megnate at telus dot net

    ReplyDelete
  31. I heart Sweet Nature Designs on Etsy. ID: megnate

    megnate at telus dot net

    ReplyDelete
  32. Awesome store, I love the teatowels! I am a follower trough GFC.

    ReplyDelete
  33. and sweet nature designs was already in my hearted Etsy favorites!

    ReplyDelete
  34. follow you on gfc
    Robin Scott
    robinlscott4 at hotmail dot com
    pretty stuff!!

    ReplyDelete
  35. "hearted" her etsy shop
    robinlscott
    robinlscott4 at hotmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  36. I'm a gfc follower
    lisa.otis6 at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  37. I favorited the sweet nature designs etsy shop.
    lisa.otis6 at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  38. I hearted their shop (holdmyheart)

    ReplyDelete
  39. i follow your blog

    royce david
    roycedavids@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  40. i have hearted the shop

    royced.

    roycedavids@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  41. Following you as meki :)

    melody_1504(at)yahoo(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  42. I follow you via GFC. Thank you so much for offering such a fun and generous giveaway. :)

    clogzilla(at)yahoo(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  43. I added sweetnaturedesigns to my Etsy favorites, my shop name is hellcatvintage.

    clogzilla(at)yahoo(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  44. I'm a GFC follower!
    katelyn.j.stephens at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  45. I hearted the Cotton Kitchen Towel - Peacock Blue Berry Branch (bamboograpefruit)
    thanks!
    katelyn.j.stephens at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  46. OMG, soo many cute things in their Etsy shop. I favorited the shop and 3 really great items!! :)

    ReplyDelete
  47. hearted the shop on etsy- username bokononist

    marija.majerle at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  48. I follow you via gfc.....ciao4now64@yahoo.com

    ReplyDelete
  49. I hearted your Apron - Linen Cafe Apron in Orange with Fern Screenprint on etsy at labellaluna64....ciao4now64@yahoo.com

    ReplyDelete
  50. I follow your blog

    redshadow1606@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  51. I hearted the etsy shop

    redshadow1606@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  52. I follow with GFC as A. Tolar.

    supaflychikenpi2 AT gmail DOT com

    ReplyDelete
  53. I like SweetNaturedDesign on etsy as JillHogan

    ReplyDelete
  54. i hearted the jersey scarf on etsy. adorable!

    ReplyDelete
  55. I follow you via GFC. I love love love so many of the towels that it will be nearly impossible to pick one if I win! But I would love to try! LOL
    Angie
    14earth at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  56. I faved/hearted them via Etsy as FotoMacro.
    Angie
    14earth at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  57. I'm a GFC follower!

    Echo
    echodannelle[at]gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  58. I added SweetNatureDesigns to my favorites on Etsy (moespie).

    Echo
    echodannelle[at]gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  59. New blog follower :)
    Glad to be here and cant wait to see more post from ya!

    Ashley
    shopjinx@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  60. hello following you newly thanks

    ReplyDelete
  61. hearted this lovely shop so nice love the scarf!! super!

    ReplyDelete
  62. follow blog jelaws5
    what a pretty towel
    matches my kitchen :)
    thanks
    aunteegem@yahoo.com

    ReplyDelete
  63. This comment has been removed by the author.

    ReplyDelete
  64. heart shop as 321Gem
    aunteegem@yahoo.com

    ReplyDelete
  65. This giveaway is now closed. Winner announced soon! In the mean time, visit the giveaway tab above!

    ReplyDelete