Showing posts with label rosette. Show all posts
Showing posts with label rosette. Show all posts

Sunday, September 18, 2011

Meet the Artist and Giveaway: Elvina from NewMomDesigns

I have something really special for all you fabric lovin' gals, a new giveaway!
Elvina from NewMomDesigns has graciously agreed 
to send one of my lucky followers
a yard of the fabric of their choice!

Kitchen fabric with a modern twist - "Gourds on vintage plates" cotton ( Fat Quarter)Ready to ship
Buy it here
NewMomDesigns isn't your typical fabric shop. In fact, you won't find these designs anywhere else!
Elvina designed each and every pattern! I first came across Elvina's shop when my good friend Jessa from
littlepearlquilts marked this fabric as a favorite:

Children's fabric "Building Blocks" perfect for modern baby bedding - (Fat Quarter) Cotton Sateen- Ready to ship
Buy it here
For some reason when I saw it I became instantly nostalgic. 
It reminds me of some blocks we used to play with as kids. 
I am IN LOVE with this color combination, just writing about it made me want to pin it, so I did :)


Kitchen Retro Fabric - Fat Quarter- Cotton
Buy it here
I don't often talk about it here, but I am obsessed with antique kitchen items. 
I have a fair collection of Pyrex and Fire King bakeware. 
This pattern reminds me of some of my favorite dishes and utensils.  

As you all have probably figured out by now, I'm pretty much a paper crafter.
Still, I LOVE fabric, and I'm super jealous of you sewing types. 
Elvina went ahead and sent me some fabric to play with.

Cotton Fabric - FUN CIRCLES ( Fat Quarter)
Buy it here

Here are a couple little things I've made so far. 
More on that later....




 Elvina and I joked about what I would do with what was left over from a yard of fabric
if I was going to make magnets, still makes me chuckle a little thinking about it.
I promise I'll do more, Elvina, soon :)

I've really enjoyed getting to know Elvina, I know you will, too.

Q: Tell us a little about yourself.
A: After I had my first kid, I knew I wanted to be more in control of my work schedule, I wanted to have the flexibility to stay home when my kids are sick, or when it rains heavily for days :) I knew I needed a change from the demanding corporate interior design position. While I thought of other options, I got pregnant with my second baby, and that sort of pushed me to take a break from working all together. We had just moved into a new house, had a new baby, so I had my hands full. Some time later, I got swept up into fabric design - all because I could not find the fabric I needed for my son's room. Ever since then I see inspiration for fabric pattern everywhere I go, no matter what I do - fabric is always on my mind! Kind of crazy, right? LOL!


Q: Is interior design something you still do?
A: Interior Design is still a strong passion of mine. I read Interior designs magazines, follow design blogs, do small projects and help my friends with their design dilemmas.And because fabrics (not necessarily mine)  are such a big part of an interior design, I do plan to offer Interior Design services locally as well as via internet " E-design". I think custom upholstery fabric option could be a great perk for my clients ;)


Q: It seems like so many great things on Etsy started with a story like yours. Were you hesitant at first to go for it? 
A: Well, it was a bit different for me. Thanks to my great hubby, I was able to stay home with my kids for a while without any pressure of going back to work. Instead, he supported the idea of finding a way to balance my motherhood/family time with a flexible working schedule. It was important to both of us that my job makes me happy, because when the mommy is happy - everyone is happy! And that's when I started considering my fabric adventure as a serious candidate for my day job.

Q: I really get a kick out of your designs! How would you describe your style?
A: I always try to keep it clean and modern, but I end up squeezing a little bit of fun or humor into it as well.


Childrens fabric- "Where my toys live..." ( One yard)
Buy it here

Q: Sounds like you've got a couple of little ones at home. However do you manage to balance work and...well, work?
A: Ha-ha! That is so true! When I work on my designs I actually rest from the "work" with kids. Recently, they both joined a day care nearby, so I could dedicate more time to fabric business. So I try to do all my house chores, blogging, design work and occasional projects during the day while they are not home. Weekends are spend either visiting friends, grandparents or having guests at home, so work is definitely out of the question, except maybe answering emails really quickly.

Q: What kind of fabrics are you working on currently? Any holiday fabrics in the works?
A: Well, most likely I will skip this year on holiday fabrics, I have a bigger project in the works that is important to finish by the end of the year: I am in the process of setting up a REAL online fabric retail store with my brand, where most of my fabrics for sale will be organic, produced with low chemical dyes, and all with affordable price tags. That's a tall order! :))

Q: If you don't mind me sharing our funny little secret, I thought people might get a kick out of the fact that you and I don't sew! We're designers! Do you have any hidden talents?
A: It is true, I don't sew, but I wish I could... As for hidden talents - not sure I could do anything non-design related. One of my biggest talents, (and my husband would agree), is finding an excuse not to work out! Exercise and I, we have tension in our relationship! :)

Q: Do you have any advice for new sellers on Etsy? 
A: I know this been said many times, but try to photograph your products better. Just when you think the picture is good, try taking another one. Not that I have mastered it, but I do notice a big difference with better images. Always improve your pictures, even if it means taking a thousand, just to get the one right. I myself plan to re-photograph all my fabrics for my new website.
Q: Just for fun, what are some of your favorite Etsy stores to "window shop"?
A: cynthiavardhan - gorgeous handmade items, HelenRawlinson - such lovely patterns and graphics, vintageinteriors - I have been having a real itch to buy something vintage recently..., graphicspaceswood - I would shop blindfolded here, everything is so awesome, contemori - what is the age limit for buying toys...?

That should keep me busy for awhile, Elvina! You've really got great taste. Okay, readers, don't get lost! Head on back here and enter this fantastic giveaway for a yard of your choice from NewMomDesigns!

How to Enter the Giveaway:

1. Follow this blog
and leave a comment here saying you did.

2. Follow Elvina's Blog "Many Little Things Make Me Happy"
and leave a separate comment here saying you do.


3. "Like" NewMomDesigns on Facebook & let them know I sent you
and leave a separate comment here saying you did.

4. Visit NewMomDesigns on Etsy and leave a separate
comment here letting us know which item is your favorite.

By the way, Elvina is offering free shipping within the United States
exclusively for my blog readers!
Just let her know I sent you :)


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


Good luck!

Fine Print:
Only 4 entries per household please
1 winner will be chosen September 28th 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 

Monday, August 1, 2011

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....

Ali dress
Buy it here

Or my latest obsession, butterflies...

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

Daisy Rufflebuns Romper
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!

Simple Summer Tunic
Buy it here
Warning, dietitian bias to follow: Every new Mom should have one of these nifty nursing cover-ups!

Nursing coverup
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?

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?

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

Sunday, July 31, 2011

Welcome getyourcraftonshop!

Look at these amazing finds I came across on Etsy from Lynette over at getyourcraftonshop:

tiffanychix - CUSTOM LISTING
Buy it here
That baby CAN'T be real, it's simply too cute! It's no surprise this is the best seller, that hat is just TOO cute! Did I mention I'm obsessed with baby hats? How about stripes, and dots, did I tell you I'm obsessed with those, too?!

The REESE baby beanie, in hot pink and lime green, multiple sizes available, great photography prop
Buy it here
And rosette's...

Aqua and Lime Triple Rosette Headband
Buy it here

Lynette pretty much has all my favorites covered! I'm like a kid in a candy shop. AND she's fun to "talk" to :)

Q: How has your shopped changed since it opened? 

A: I actually had a shop with a friend first and we made all sorts of baby items. Like carseat blankets, tie onesies, hair things. My new shop I've tried to focus on mostly beanies and some hair things.

Q: How do you come up with new ideas?

A: I have ideas going through my head all the time. Sometimes I use those ideas, sometimes I use other people's ideas as inspiration. I really just try to come up with fun, trendy ideas that I like and hopefully others will like too!


Q: What is the best business decision you ever made?

A: To buy a few shirts on clearance at Target. I used those shirts to make the "MOM" hat that is so popular!

Q: Worst? 
A: Sometimes I wonder if the time it takes to run a shop is worth it :)


Lynette, it's totally worth it! You make something truly unique and special! 


Lynette kindly offered to provide an exclusive coupon code to my readers. Bargain alert! Use the coupon code moderntypography10 at checkout to receive 10% off your purchase. 


As my husband would say, awesome sauce! Thanks for stopping by Lynette, let's do this again sometime soon! 


-Melanie

Thursday, July 28, 2011

Winner Winner, Chicken Dinner!

Congratulations, Michelle Willow, AKA besttoddlertoys, AKA PlayfulTots, you've won the Girly Girl Giveaway! Some lucky little girl is about to get all decked out. You have 2 days to reply to claim your gift, so check your email!

Didn't win? Don't lets be gloomy. You won't believe how many giveaways I have lined up for August!

In the mean time, I'm sponsoring a giveaway for a $15 gift certificate to my shop over at Simply Stacie. You have until August 11th to enter, but why wait?!

Giveaways are awesome, in case you didn't know! Recently I won this colorful set of place mats from toocutecustomcrafts on the Etsy Stalkers Blog:

Blue Big Floral - Set of 4 Placemats
Buy it here
I also won these funtastic hair pins from HiddenCupcakes over at Delirious Rhapsody:

Orange Blossom... (Single Flower Pin, small)Rosy Posy mini hair ruffles (Bobby Pins)Blue Bell (Single Flower Pin, small)
I am on a roll, right?!

Stayed tuned for more giveaway madness!

-Melanie