Sugar & Spice Giveaway Extended to August 15th!

I've extended the Sugar & Spice Giveaway to August 15th!

Click Here to enter.

Tell your friends :)

Sugar & Spice Giveaway: Sponsor #4 royalrugrats

Please give a warm welcome to Brooke from royalrugrats! Brooke has graciously agreed to offer our Sugar & Spice Giveaway (Enter Here) winner a $10 gift certificate to her store. Brooke makes the most "delicious" felt play food and accesories. I'm sure you can see why this set was featured in Simply Handmade Magazine, it's just TOO cute:



Buy it here

 Brooke has a good balance of everyday foods and sweet treats:



Buy it here



Buy it here




Buy it here

 
 A little about Brooke and royalrugrats:

Q: What is the most popular item in your shop?
A: For new Royal Chefs my most popular items are the Medium and deluxe grocery sets. For my Royal Chefs who are growing their collections my specialty items like the Royal Tea Set and fruit basket have been  "cooking" favorites!

Q: Use 3 words to describe yourself.
A: Sincere, Satisfied, Joyful

Q: If you could start your shop over again, what would you do differently?
A: I honestly would not change a thing. I love what I do and feel privilaged for the many opportunities it has led me to. I have taught museum seminars, been nationally published and even designed felt goodies for a music video all because of my Etsy shop.

Q: How much time do you spend "crafting" vs running the business end of things?
A: I spend 65% of my time designing and cresting each hand crafted play foods. The other 35% on my time is spent on taxes, billing, customer service and right now designing the soon to be released Royal Rugrats Patterns and DIY kits!

Q: How do you balance work and home life/real job?
A: How does anyone? I don't think I have figured this out 100% but my first priority is my own Royal Chef and no matter what, she comes first. After that, Royal Rugrats has grown into my second "baby" that I take great pride in and feel so blessed to have a growing business and wonderful customers who allow me to design for them.

Q: What else would you like people to know about you/your shop?  

A: What I feel makes my shop unique is all designs are made and produced by me. I do not copy from patterns and have used my university degree's in fashion and merchandising to create one of a kind details. I have also worked to ensure that my shop is well rounded for all customers and budgets without skipping out on quality. You will see that almost every item in my shop has hand sewn details and are of high quality. The last thing I would like people to know is that customer service is and will always be my number one priority. I reply to all questions within 24 hours and am always happy to hear from my Royal Chefs!

Bonus: royalrugrats, as well as the other shops participating in the Sugar & Spice Giveaway are offering 10% off a purchase in their shop! Use the code MODERN10 at checkout before this offer expires!

Thanks Brooke, your food is incrEDIBLE!

-Melanie 

Sugar & Spice Giveaway: Sponsor #3 Loubugsboutique

I am delighted to introduce you to Tracy from Loubugsboutique! Tracy's shop was one of my first favorites. I added the very same diaper pouch to my baby registry that we're giving to one lucky winner of the Sugar & Spice Giveaway (Enter Here):

Buy it here

Tracy works with some of my favorite fabrics to make a variety of items for children, like this travel pillow and car strap cover set:

Buy it here

And these handy burp clothes:

Buy it here

Tracy also makes these adorable tooth fairy pillows:

Buy it here

And fun little hand puppets:

Buy it here

Loubugsboutique is a one-stop-shop for the perfect baby shower gift, at VERY reasonable prices. When I received my diaper pouch in the mail, I was so impressed with Tracy's handiwork, I knew it would be a piece I would cherish for years. 

Here's a little more about Tracy:

Q: Do you remember the first time you heard about Etsy?

A: Yes about three years ago on Good Morning America, I got on the sight and was IN LOVE.

Q: Use 3 words to describe yourself. 

A: Busy Crafty Mom

Q: How do you balance work and home life/real job?
A: It’s so hard because I stay at home with my 3 year old and the only way to describe it is picture taking your child with you to work every day, LOL. It has its challenges but have been very lucky to stay home with her.

Q: If you could start your shop over again, what would you do differently?

A: I actually have already, I had another shop selling my travel pillows for a year and I opened Lou Bugs Boutique last fall using designer fabrics and switched from flannel fabric to the minky dot fabric, also adding lots of new items like the diaper pouches.

Q: Are you a member of any teams on Etsy? If so, which is your favorite?
A: I am. The Etsykids team.

To find out more about Tracy and Loubugsboutique make sure to visit her Etsy store and Facebook page.

Loubugsboutiques, as well as all of the Sugar and Spice Giveaway sponsors are offering 10% off a purchase from their shop, now until August 8th. Be sure to take advantage using the code MODERN10 at checkout before it's too late!

Thanks a bunch Tracy, so much fun! Can't wait to work with you again :)

-Melanie

Sugar & Spice Giveaway: Sponsor #2 3three

Please welcome Jennie from 3three. Jennie is one of those fantastic sellers that not only offers amazing products but also the patterns to make them yourself! These easy to follow hand illustrated instructions are simply charming! She has donated a pattern for the most popular item in her shop for the Sugar and Spice Giveaway (Enter Here), the Olive Mae dress pattern:

Buy it here

Taking a temporary break from sewing during this crazy hot spell? 

Don't worry, 3three's got you covered (Buy it here).

It suddenly occurred to me this week that Christmas is coming! I can definitely see my daughter in this dress for the holidays:

Buy it here

Jennie also sells these adorable bustle skirts:

Buy it here

I can't get over this picture, just too sweet! Of course, the pantaloons are in Jennie's shop:

Buy it here

Jennie took a moment to tell us a little about herself and her shop:

Q: Do you remember the first time you heard about Etsy?
A: First time from my husband, but I shrugged off the idea of participating. Second time from my good friend and co-owner of the shop. She was making beautiful children's clothes and graciously let me hop on board and join her shop.

Q: If you could start your shop over again, what would you do differently?
First off, I would have started it back when my husband first showed me the new online site. I was busy with kids at the time. But I'm still busy with little kids, and yet finding time to participate in this unique marketplace. I also would focus more on creating patterns to sell - that is in my plans for the future.

Q: How do you balance work and home life/real job?

A: My home life comes first (or that's my goal, at least). Sometimes it does encroach on my time with my kids and husband, but I try hard to make sure that doesn't happen. I do most of my Etsy work at night after the kids are in bed.

Q: How much time do you spend "crafting" vs running the business end of things?
A: I don't spend much time networking. I do have a blog. I spend a lot of time writing about my projects and the beautiful things I find in my daily life. I mostly hope that if people are inspired by my art and projects in my blog, they might be inspired to buy something I've created. That's the most enjoyable kind of advertising I can think of!

Q: Is there anything else you want people to know about you/your shop?

A: I thrive on creating beautiful things you can't find elsewhere. The shop is the place where the ideas my mind is brimming with spill over into reality.


And we are so glad they do, Jennie! Keep at it, I see big success in 3three's future :)


Don't forget, all of my giveaway sponsors are offering an exclusive coupon code for my blog readers during the giveaway! Be sure to use the code MODERN10 to receive10% off your purchase before it's too late.


-Melanie

Sugar & Spice Giveaway: Sponsor #1 mylittlepeeps

I'd like to introduce you to Kathi from mylittlepeeps! Kathi has graciously decided to donate a $20 gift certificate  to mylittlepeeps for the Sugar & Spice Giveaway (Enter Here).

What would I spend it on, you ask?!? My favorite....the Ali dress of course! Dots, owls, bright colors....

Buy it here

Or my latest obsession, butterflies...

Buy it here

I wish this baby was for sale. But I would definitely settle for these appropriately names "rufflebuns":

Buy it here

Kathi, you've officially accomplished the ideal shopping situation! Kids clothes AND stuff for Moms, all in one place! Mom's need to look cute, too!

Buy it here

Warning, dietitian bias to follow: Every new Mom should have one of these nifty nursing cover-ups!

Buy it here 

I could go on FOREVER. You have to go check it out for yourself. 

A little about Kathi & mylittlepeeps:

Q: What is the most popular item in your shop?

A: My kewpie sets

Q: Use 3 words to describe yourself.

A: Colorful, creative, motivated!

Q: How do you balance work and home life?

A: I try to hone my craft during the day and spend time with family at noc.  I also take days off.

Q: What do you find most challenging about running your shop, and how do you overcome it?

A: Finding enough hours in the day to try out new stuff when bogged down with orders.  I am a one man show so it's hard to do it all! 

Q: If you could start your shop over again, what would you do differently?

A: Research online selling and social media networking

Q: Are you a member of any teams on Etsy?

A: Handmade clothes for children

Q: Who is your favorite "supplier" on Etsy?

A: Hard!  Bitsy bands and tiedyediva

Q: Just for fun, what is your favorite treasury you've been featured in?

A: dot your "i"s by paroliro...love the colors!

Kathi, your "store front" looks like a treasury! Makes me want another girl :)

Want to see more of Kathi and mylittlepeeps? Check out her Etsy shop or Facebook page. 

Bonus: mylittlepeeps, as well as the other sponsors of the Sugar & Spice Giveaway, are offering an exclusive coupon code for my blog readers during the giveaway. Use the code MODERN10 in any of the stores to receive 10% off your purchase! 

Thanks Kathi, you're a peach :)  

-Melanie

Sugar & Spice Giveaway!

Can you believe it's already time for another BIG giveaway?! Wow, does time fly. I really think you're going to love this one. I was so excited about it, I designed a brand new print for my store!

I'm so glad God blessed me with a little girl, and one who likes to dress up, at that! I'll have to admit, I'm going to be very jealous of one lucky winner. Look what YOU just may win:

#1 Sugar and Spice print from moderntypography

#2 $10 Gift Certificate to royalrugrats

#3 Day at the Zoo Diaper Pouch from Loubugsboutique

#4 Olive Mae Dress Pattern from 3three

#5 $20 Gift Certificate from mylittlepeeps

Aren't you excited? Well, get to work then!

How to Enter:

1. Mandatory: follow this blog

and leave a comment here saying you did.

2. Give a heart to each featured shop

and leave a comment here saying you did.

Follow these links:
moderntypography
royalrugrats
Loubugsboutique
3three
mylittlepeeps

Check back daily to learn about the sellers of these fine items.

Each day we will feature a post including some fun Q & A!

Find out how these shops gained success, what advice they have for

other sellers, what they love to shop for on Etsy & more.

Added bonus: 

Each featured seller is offering 10% off 

items in their shop during the giveaway!

Use the code MODERN10 during checkout.

Offer expires August 8th at midnight.

Best of Luck!

Fine Print:

Only 2 entries per household please

1 winner will be chosen August 15th 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 

and be a resident of US or Canada