Pillow Sew Cute Review and Giveaway

What do you pack in your diaper bag? Diapers? Wipes? Tylenol? What do you carry after you no longer need a big diaper bag? Smaller wipes and less diapers? What about when your little one gets a boo boo? I have always had a first aid kit in the car but I've never carried anything in the diaper bag. Until recently that is. About 2 months ago, I was playing with the kids at the park when Emma, my graceful kid, fell on the gravel and skinned her knee. Since we parked at the duck pond and walked to the playground, my car was quite a distance away. I felt like the worlds worst mom...That was until another mom brought her medical kit over and offered me her supplies. I vowed right then to make a kit to put in my diaper bag. Not long after, I had the chance to review the Ouch Pouch from Pillow Sew Cute.




Here is a bit about Karen:

My name is Karen. I've been married 26 years, have
2 grown children (1 cop, 1 student) and am a San Diego Native. I was previously a Creative merchandiser for beautiful Home Decor/Garden Art Shop.

When I found out the shop I work for was closing it's doors, the thought of going out canvasing for work was very unappealing... I needed plan B!

The "Ouch Pouch" came to me in a dream. I woke up at 2am one morning last July shaking my husband...Honey, wake up!! I have an idea!! and the Ouch Pouch was born. I have been selling on Etsy since the creation back in July 2009 as a full time job. I am one of the very lucky ones who got to "quit the day job"! Have sold over 2300 Ouch Pouches to moms all over the world.

I get my inspiration from the wonderful feedback from family, friends and now customers. I love love love buying fabrics...now I get to scout for and find the newest most fun designs.

I didn't sell any the first week I listed. I was worried that this product wasn't going to be a success. My husband insisted that I keep at it and told me that my idea would catch on, it just needed to be seen! Now I am being featured in Child Style Magazine!

Here's some advice for artists wishing to sell on Etsy...don't give up, be unique, be friendly and open to custom work, and relist as often as possible and get your "avatar" (icon) out there.

A little more info:

The Ouch Pouch(TM) For all your monkey's scrapes and boo boo's..... is a hand held pouch using the most updated designer fabrics, both "mom fashionista" and "child-friendly " with a clear view front pocket. Snaps closed with a colorful cowgirl snap. It holds all necessary first aid supplies for your toddler's little boo boo's and emergencies that happen while out at the park, beach, or anywhere on-the-go! Small enough to fit in your purse, backpack, stroller, car but large enough to hold: Neo-to-go, bandaids, antiseptic wipes, tweezers, headache meds, an inhaler, travel sized sunblock, (for us California babies), a small thermometer, It also has room for a lollipop...which of course makes the boo boo go away! With an Ouch Pouch(TM) you will no longer be scrounging at the bottom of your purse for a bandaid! The clear vinyl front pocket makes everything visible so you know right where to find your supplies in a hurry.

This is a New Mommy "Must-Have".

My Ouch Pouch is in Trademark/Patent process. Each pouch is handmade to order. I try to keep up on the latest styles of fabrics to keep it fresh. They sell for under $6 (empty) + shipping. They also come "Basic-Loaded" & "Super-Loaded" for more instant gratification.






Aren't they cute!! And they were just what I needed. These pouches are perfect sized for all we need them for. I carry bandaids, antibiotic ointment, gauze pads, forehead thermometer, chapstick, orajel, and handy wipes...and a cherry sucker to make all the boo boo's better. Emma is now making up boo boo's in order to get a bandaid and sucker :)


Karen offers her wonderful Ouch Pouch in several sizes and tons of fabric designs. Karen offers deals often such as buy 3 pouches and get 1 small pouch free. Karen welcomes custom and wholesale orders so just convo her to work out the details.

Bet you want one, huh?

Head over to Pillow Sew Cute and pick out your favorite size and design.

Bet you would rather win one, huh?

Karen is awesome so she offered 2 of my readers the Ouch Pouches in the picture!!

Mandatory Entry:

You must be a follower of Luvn Life and then head over to Pillow Sew Cute and tell me what you love.

Optional Entries:

~Heart Karen's Etsy shop

~Subscribe to my blog

~Follow me on Twitter and tweet this giveaway(can be done daily): @luvnlifeOO Enter to win an Ouch Pouch from Pillow Sew Cute Etsy Shop

http://tinyurl.com/2a4xy7z

~Grab my new button (5 entries)

~Grab my Birthday Bash Button (1 entry unless you grabbed early then it is 5)

~Enter another giveaway on my blog (1 entry each)

~Blog about my giveaway with a link to the giveaway here and to Pillow Sew Cute(5 separate entries if you blogged early, 1 if you blogged on or after July 1st)

~List my giveaway on a giveaway site or Mr. Linky and leave me the link (1 entry per listing)

~Make a purchase from Pillow Sew Cute before the Giveaway is finished (10 entries)


Each entry needs to be a separate comment. Also, please leave a valid email address for me to contact you unless it is in your profile. Pillow Sew Cute giveaway will end at 11:59pm on August 20th, 2010. Winners will be chosen via randomorg.com and the winner has 48 respond and to send correct mailing information or I will draw another winner.



**I received the above stated product to review. No other compensation was received. Receiving the sample in no way influenced my statements in the review. The opinions expressed are my own and your opinions may differ.**

Snuggy Baby Review and Giveaway

As most of my readers know, I am a big cloth diapering, baby wearing advocate. I have cloth diapered and baby wore since Emma was first born. She still loves to be in the sling even though she is really only able to sit up at this point. For many months I would catch Emma sticking her babies in the bottom of her shirt hem as if she was wearing them too! As cute as that was, I knew I had to find a sling for her babies. So I was very excited when I was given the chance to review a child's toy doll sling from Snuggy Baby.

Here is a bit about Jo:


1. Please tell us a little bit about yourself.
I am a mom to 2 amazing little girls (3 y/o and 18 months). I will have been married for 6 years in July. I am an ex English teacher for alternative schools and at risk kids. As much as I loved working with those kids, I love what I do now even more, and I get to stay home with my girls.

2. What circumstances brought you to opening a shop and selling on Etsy.
When my girls were born, I was not able to find any slings to carry them in. The only thing that I could find was a very sorry excuse for a sling and it broke after only 2 months of VERY light use. So I learned how to make my own. The first slings were not the greatest designs, but after several tries and years of people telling me that I should sell my slings, I finally came up with a design that I really wanted to share with other moms, making it easier for them to have a beautiful, comfortable sling. Etsy was the perfect venue for me do that.


3. How did you choose the name of your shop?
My Husband and I sat down one night and brainstormed for hours. We wanted something that was fitting for babies, but not too cutsie. Something that said sling but was not limiting to babywearing. When I made up the word "Snuggy" we both knew that it was the right answer.

4. Where do you get your inspiration?
I spend way too many hours in fabric stores wandering around looking for the right fabric that I know other moms will LOVE

5. Apart from creating things, what do you do?
A great day is one where I get to take my girls to the Zoo. It is defiantly one of their favorite spots. My life pretty much revolves around my girls and Snuggy Baby. If I am not enjoying one then I am enjoying the other.

6. How did you feel when your first item sold
It was great! My first sale was to a wonderful mom in England. So not only did it confirm that someone was actually going to buy my slings, but we also were able to start joking immediately that I was an "International Seller" :)

7. How long have you been selling on Etsy?
I started selling in July of 2009. I am coming up on my 1 year anniversary.

8. Do you have a day job or is Etsy it for you?
Between Snuggy Baby and my girls, I don't have time for anything else. This is defiantly a full time job.

9. Do you sell your products elsewhere, or only on Etsy?
I have my own website www.SnuggyBaby.com

10. What is your favorite item that you sell?
I love everything, or else I would not sell it. I will say that Snuggy Baby was started as a sling company, so the slings will always have a special place in my heart. My current favorite slings are the linen ones since they are so cool for summer. But I am also really excited about the new Prestige line. It is just so hard to choose.

11. If you could give any advice to someone aspiring to sell on Etsy, what would it be?
Branding is important, so choose a great name. List and renew several times a day. Unfortunately it can get expensive, but you make it back in the increased exposure and sales. Sell things that you are passionate about. Etsy should be fun and it is a lot more fun when you are passionate about what you are doing.

Emma is in love with her new sling. It took her a few trys to be able to get the sling on all by herself but now she is a pro. She has actually mastered putting 2 babies in the sling, one on each side and then putting it on. She often asks to go on walks, which is what I do with her in her sling. It is very common to hear Emma singing "Rock A Bye Baby" to her doll while rocking on her bed. Too CUTE!

I was very impressed with the quality of the doll sling. It is a very soft flannel fabric and all the stitches are also soft so there is nothing to rub Emma's skin. It also is a great size, fitting her well. But there is room to grow in the sling which is nice.

I have my eye on several other items in Jo's store too...



I am in love with this ring sling. This sling is so much easier to use than others I've seen and can be used between different sized people. A definite of mine with the next papoose.

This is the cutest wetbag on the planet. And very reasonably price I might add. Available in 2 sizes.

Jo is on Etsy and owns the website Snuggy Baby.



Bet you want one, huh?

Head over to Snuggy Baby and pick out your favorite patterned baby sling. Use the code LUVNLIFE for 10% off.

Bet you would rather win one, huh?

Jo is awesome so she offered one of my readers a $15 Gift Certificate to her store!!

Mandatory Entry:

You must be a follower of Luvn Life and then head over to Snuggy Baby and tell me what you love.

Optional Entries:

~Heart Jo's Etsy shop

~Subscribe to my blog

~Follow Snuggy Baby on Facebook

~Follow Snuggy Baby on Twitter

~Follow me on Twitter and tweet this giveaway(can be done daily): @luvnlifeOO Enter to win a $15 Gift Certificate to @SnuggyBaby http://tinyurl.com/29qmq6f

~Grab my new button (5 entries)

~Grab my Birthday Bash Button (1 entry unless you grabbed early then it is 5)

~Enter another giveaway on my blog (1 entry each)

~Blog about my giveaway with a link to the giveaway here and to Snuggy Baby(5 separate entries if you blogged early, 1 if you blogged on or after July 1st)

~List my giveaway on a giveaway site or Mr. Linky and leave me the link (1 entry per listing)

~Make a purchase from Snuggy Baby before the Giveaway is finished (10 entries)


Each entry needs to be a separate comment. Also, please leave a valid email address for me to contact you unless it is in your profile. Snuggy Baby giveaway will end at 11:59pm on August 19th, 2010. Winners will be chosen via randomorg.com and the winner has 48 respond and to send correct mailing information or I will draw another winner.



**I received the above stated product to review. No other compensation was received. Receiving the sample in no way influenced my statements in the review. The opinions expressed are my own and your opinions may differ.**

Girlfriend Made It Review and Giveaway

Even though Emma is 2, she doesn't have much hair. What she does have is fine and quite short. We have tried several types of hair products but only small rubber bands have been successful. Emma wants her hair done like her big sister's hair and often cries when I can't give her those hairstyles. So, I was very excited to be able to review headbands and clippies from Girlfriend Made It.

Here is a bit about Dametria:

1. Please tell us a little bit about yourself.
I am a 31 year old Auntie who loves to create!

2. What circumstances brought you to opening a shop and selling on Etsy
After many years of making for my friends and family, they finally pushed me to
take my creative juices to the masses!!

3. How did you choose the name of your shop?
The name of my shop came directly from my nieces. They call me "Girlfriend." So,
whenever they had some that I made them and someone asked where they got it, their
response was always..."Girlfriend made it!" It just stuck!

4. Where do you get your inspiration?
I am totally inspired by the children in my family! They range in age from 9 months to
teenagers. They all love to have the things that no one else has and they usually
come to me for that stuff.

5. Apart from creating things, what do you do?
I love to spend most of my free time creating, but I am also an avid reader. I love
to watch movies and spend time with my family and friends.

6. How did you feel when your first item sold
I was super excited when I saw my first item sold. It actually sold about 3 hours
after I opened the shop. My initial response was, "Did my family go and buy something
to make me feel better!" I was sooo happy!

7. How long have you been selling on Etsy?
I have been selling on Etsy for a little over a year. It is been an amazing year.

8. Do you have a day job or is Etsy it for you?
By day I am an income analyst for Wells Fargo bank. There is no opportunity to let
my creative juices flow. By day I think about all the things I can create at night!

9. Do you sell your products elsewhere, or only on Etsy?
Currently, I only sell on Etsy. Everything else I sell via word of mouth. My direct
sales are a large portion of my sales.

10. What is your favorite item that you sell?
My favorite item to sell are bandana dresses. They look so cute on the little girls!!

11. If you could give any advice to someone aspiring to sell on Etsy, what would it be?
My advice would be to go with your gut. Don't be intimidated looking at other
sellers who have a lot of sales. Check them out for tips, but don't be discouraged!
Success can be yours!!

We were also sent a pair of flip flops. However, they are a bit big so we haven't been able to review them yet.

We love Dametria's hair clips and head bands. The clips were very dainty with small small ribbon bows. The metal clippy was covered with ribbon, making the clip visually appealing. The head bands are awesome. They are created with a weaved pattern ribbons. They are very strong and sturdy, standing up to Emma's brute strength. These are the first headbands that I have found that are small enough to fit Emma's head. Also, she wore them for several hours and didn't complain of them hurting her head, which is problem I have found with my oldest daughter.

Dametria also offers sippy cups, plates, bowls, wipe cases, and stretchy headbands. She also loves custom orders. We are very happy with the quality and design of Emma's hair products and will use Girlfriend Made It in the future.

Bet you want one, huh?

Head over to Girlfriend Made It and pick out your favorite hair clips and headbands.

Bet you would rather win one, huh?

Dametria is awesome so she offered one of my readers a pair of flip flops and matching headband!!

Mandatory Entry:

You must be a follower of Luvn Life and then head over to Girlfriend Made It and tell me what you love.

Optional Entries:

~Heart Dametria's shop

~Subscribe to my blog

~Follow me on Twitter and tweet this giveaway(can be done daily): @luvnlifeOO Enter to win a pair of Flip Flops and matching headband from Girlfriend Made It Etsy Shop http://tinyurl.com/2g23ms9

~Grab my new button (5 entries)

~Grab my Birthday Bash Button (1 entry unless you grabbed early then it is 5)

~Enter another giveaway on my blog (1 entry each)

~Blog about my giveaway with a link to the giveaway here and to Girlfriend Made It(5 separate entries if you blogged early, 1 if you blogged on or after July 1st)

~List my giveaway on a giveaway site or Mr. Linky and leave me the link (1 entry per listing)

~Make a purchase from Girlfriend Made It before the Giveaway is finished (10 entries)


Each entry needs to be a separate comment. Also, please leave a valid email address for me to contact you unless it is in your profile. Girlfriend Made It giveaway will end at 11:59pm on August 17th, 2010. Winners will be chosen via randomorg.com and the winner has 48 respond and to send correct mailing information or I will draw another winner.



**I received the above stated product to review. No other compensation was received. Receiving the sample in no way influenced my statements in the review. The opinions expressed are my own and your opinions may differ.**

Winners!

Saasyfras Designs:

CarrieAnn13 said... 86
I heart the etsy shop

July 23, 2010 2:46 PM



Little Sweetie Boutique:


Chelsey said... 3
I like so many of the dresses including the Cupcake dress and the KITTY CATS Aqua Pink DOTS dress. Thanks for the giveaway. I follow. mybabyappleseed(at)yahoo(dot)ca

July 11, 2010 4:48 PM


No Paparazzi Please:

Nell said... 60
I entered the OhBayBee giveaway.
oldsockfarm At gmail D0t com

July 27, 2010 6:11 PM


Congrats! You all have 48 hrs to contact me before I draw another winner.

Redraw for Mama Runs with Scissors Giveaway

I did not hear from my 1st winner so I had to redraw! I hate that but this winner marked her profile private and did not include her email address in her comments..,.

So the new winner is:

caedmen said... 52
tweet
http://twitter.com/Caedmen/status/18776082951

richardrachel at hotmail dot com


You have 48 hrs to email me with your info before I draw another winner.

Mommy Pads and More Review and Giveaway

Several months ago, I held a review and giveaway for Mommy Pads and More. You can read that review here.

I loved working with Susie and her Mommy Pads so much that I asked her to join the Birthday Bash. This time I chose the Maguire Pad.

The pad included a matching ribbon on top. My mommy pad and family pad have been the talk of the town. The mommy pad from the last review was featured at my kid's PTA meeting! I use my new pad to send notes to family, leave notes for sitters, and for my daughter to use to give her friends her phone number. The stationary is very high quality. Markers do not bleed through nor does the pen make creases on the page underneath.

Susie offers a huge selection of products including mommy pads, sitter pads, family pads, address stamps and mommy necklaces (which I have my eye on)!

Its so cute, isn't it!!

Susie does wonderful work and welcomes custom orders. Nothing Susie won't try! She will send you a proof promptly and her shipping is swift too. She even did a gift order to my mom for me, wrapped in a pink ribbon.

Bet you want one huh?

Head over to Mommy Pads & More and buy your very own Mommy Pad

Bet you would rather win one, huh?

Susie is awesome so she offered one of my readers a Pad of your choice!!

Mandatory Entry:

You must be a follower of Luvn Life and then head over to Mommy Pads & More and tell me what you love.

Optional Entries:

Subscribe to Mommy Pads and More Blog

Subscribe to my Blog

Follow Mommy Pads and More on Twitter

Follow me on Twitter and tweet the Giveaway:
Copy and Paste: @luvnlifeOO Win your choice of a Mommy Pad from @mommypadsnmore http://tinyurl.com/27dou9t

Grab my button (5 entries)

Blog about this giveaway and link back to Luvn Life and Mommy Pads and More (5 entries)

Purchase something from Mommy Pads and More before the Giveaway ends (10 entries)

Each entry needs to be a separate comment. Also, please leave a valid email address for me to contact you unless it is in your profile. The Mommy Pads & More giveaway will end at 11:59pm on August 15th, 2010. Winners will be chosen via randomorg.com and the winner has 48 respond and to send correct mailing information or I will draw another winner.

**I received a Mommy Pad and Stamp to review. No other compensation was received.The opinions expressed are my own and your opinions may differ**

QTBunns Review and Giveaway

For several months now, Emma has shown great interest in the potty. I think it comes from having older siblings and wanting to do what they do. Being a strong believer in cloth diapering, I struggled with how to handle working with the potty. I wasn't sure if I should continue to cloth diaper or use training pants, be it disposables or cloth. Then I also considered using just underwear because Emma seemed to be encouraged by the pretty prints. She has several pairs of Princess undies but she was having accidents so the underwear wasn't the best idea. When I went back to cloth diapers, she seemed to regress and had lots of accidents. I was struggling with the best solution so when I had the chance to review cloth training pants from QTBunns, I was very excited.

A Bit About Sheriee:

A little about me, I'm a mother of 4 adult children and grand mother of 8. My fondest childhood memories are those of sitting next to my mother at a very young age and watching her sew. She would give me a huge needle and some fabric and I would sit for hours creating what I thought,were the most beautiful barbie doll clothes I get restless if I am not creating something. I also crochet, cross stitch, card making, painting, scroll saw woodwork and just about anything else but haven't mastered the knitting thing yet. When I am not creating new things I relax by fishing, 4 wheeling, snow machining, berry picking, camping or hanging at the cabin with family and friends.
My daughter inspired me to make my first diapers. She asked if I could make the for her new little one. She was impressed enough with them and thought we could sell them. Well little did I know they would be a hit and from there I branched out to potty trainers, diaper covers, bibs, wipes, blankets nursing pads, etc. After selling for 2 years on Ebay on not to satisfied with their fees, my daughter ran across Etsy and, well, the rest is history.
I was extremely happy when my first item sold on Etsy because it just reassured me that I really did have a product that was well worth selling. Self doubt, Oh yes but not any more. This business has taught me how to stand on my own 2 feet and have the confidence to push beyond my own limits.
I have been selling on Etsy for 2 years now.
My shop name- I wanted something just a bit different. I had a cat named C A T and pronounces it Seady (see a dee ) so I though why just have cutie buns when I could have QTBUNNS.
Selling my products is my sole job. I have 3 stores in my home state of Alaska that carry my products as well and hope to branch out into more stores. I have a website but it's not up and running yet. That's my next priority.
My favorite items at this time to make and sell are my pull up training pants. They turned out better than I could of imagined. I think they are so cute.
My advice to others who may want to start selling on Etsy. GO FOR IT , it's so easy to learn how to use Etsy and that's coming from someone who had no computer skills when I started out except how to turn one on. I found that once I gained the courage to put my first item on Etsy and have others see it, ask questions about it,comment on it, and then eventually have some one actually buy it, made me feel quite proud of myself. Etsy had been therapeutic for me. I was able to over come my fears and doubts about myself and find the courage and self confidence in knowing that what I create is quality products. I am very proud of myself for that. Just go for it!!

Emma was thrilled when I put her training pants on her. She kept saying "pretty undies" over and over. She didn't think they were more like a pull up. Emma worked very hard all day to say dry. However, right before bedtime, she had an accident. I was concerned that the trainer may not hold up but I was very wrong. The trainer didn't even get damp. The trainer is made with an inner and outer layer of flannel with a layer of PUL in between. This kept Emma's skin dry as it also kept my couch dry! Sheriee also offers cloth diapers made very similar to the trainers. Sheriee offers a vast selection of fabrics and loves custom and large orders. We are very happy with the trainers and will be using QTBunns in the future.

Bet you want one, huh?

Head on over to QTBunns and pick up your favorite cloth trainer.

Bet you would rather win one, huh?

Sheriee is awesome and she is offering 1 Luvn Life reader the chance to win a trainer in their choice of size and cloth design.

Mandatory Entry:

You must be a follower of Luvn Life and then visit QTBunns and tell me what you love.

Optional Entries:

~Heart Sheriee's shop

~Subscribe to my blog

~Follow me on Twitter and tweet this giveaway(can be done daily): @luvnlifeOO Enter to win Cloth Training Pull Up from QTBunns Etsy Shop http://tinyurl.com/22v9e8g

~Grab my new button (5 entries)

~Grab my Birthday Bash Button (1 entry unless you grabbed early then it is 5)

~Enter another giveaway on my blog (1 entry each)

~Blog about my giveaway with a link to the giveaway here and to QTBunns(5 separate entries if you blogged early, 1 if you blogged on or after July 1st)

~List my giveaway on a giveaway site or Mr. Linky and leave me the link (1 entry per listing)

~Make a purchase from QTBunns before the Giveaway is finished (10 entries)


Each entry needs to be a separate comment. Also, please leave a valid email address for me to contact you unless it is in your profile. Cozy Toes giveaway will end at 11:59pm on August 15th, 2010. Winners will be chosen via randomorg.com and the winner has 48 respond and to send correct mailing information or I will draw another winner.



**I received the above stated product to review. No other compensation was received. Receiving the sample in no way influenced my statements in the review. The opinions expressed are my own and your opinions may differ.**

Cozy Toes Baby Shoes by KathyDee Review and Giveaway

Emma is much like her mother when it comes to shoes. The only rule I have is that you can never have too many pairs of shoes. My husband gets so upset with me and all my shoes. He says I won't ever wear them all enough to get my money worth. I have to strongly disagree. I love shoes and some pairs only go with 1 outfit. That's just the way it is. Emma has definitely inherited my "shoe genes." She is unable to leave a store without looking at the shoes. She even has almost mastered walking in heals, such as her Cinderella shoes. So I was very excited when we were given the chance to review the Purple Polka Dot shoes from Cozy Toes.

Here is a bit about Kate:

Hello, my name is Kate Alton. I am a California native born and raised on the sunny central coast until six years when we relocated to Idaho. We moved from the beach to one of the smallest towns in Idaho to help out with elderly parents. Does everyone hear the sound of "cabin fever"? I live an hour from any city life so I do most of my shopping on Etsy. I share my home over-looking the Snake River with my husband Kris and we share our yard with two fat dogs, Maggie our yellow lab and Zoe our golden retriever.

Due to an overabundant desire to create and cabin fever I discovered Etsy. I actually opened my Etsy account two years ago to sell my homemade soap. My Dad made beautiful molds for me and I have been very successful at local craft fairs so I thought I would try Etsy. It didn't work for me so I let my shop sit for a few months except for purchasing supplies. One day I was in my wonderful craft/sewing room working on needle felting and I happened to glance over and see my oldest companion, Susie, a doll I have had for 53 years, and I decided her bare feet needed a pair of shoes. Hence, CozyToes was born. I made my first pair and couldn't stop smiling. I posted my CozyToes late 2009 in time for they holiday's and my designs were a big hit. I still create batches of homemade soap for special orders and craft fairs.

When I sold my first pair of baby shoes I was so excited. Within a month I was combing through every fabric store and the internet looking for new and wonderful felt color combinations. I started getting into re-cycled wool and once I started selling booties made from brushed and felted wool sweaters I began getting requested for leather soles......hence CozyToes with leather bottoms.

Aside from Etsy, I work outside my home as a P/T bookkeeper/office manager for a utility company and I also work P/T for the local elementary school in an after school grant program. Although I have pretty much a full time job I am still able to fill my orders within 48 hours.

I sell CozyToes on Etsy, I am just starting my personal website cozytoesbykathydee.com, I sell at local craft fairs when I have the time and I have my little shoes in specialty baby stores around the US and Canada.

I don't really have a favorite item. Each and every design inspires me to make something new or try a new color combo. My customers come up with the greatest ideas of all. Can you take the zebra and add a hot pink lining? Can I have the cheetah with racer red lining? I love it.

The best advise I could pass on to a new Etsy member would be to hang in there. Don't be too nervous if you don't get sales right away because Etsy has gotten huge and is full of very talented folks and remember, many of Etsy's members are there to buy, not just sell. Have faith in your product and love what you do.

I really struggled with the name for my Etsy shop. It is a decision you have to stick with and the creative flow just wasn't happening so I settled for using my name, Kathydee. I kept thinking I would open a second store with a better name but the sales started coming in and my ego wouldn't allow me to give up the sales count!

The four seasons inspire me to create new designs however most of my shoes are custom orders to match a dress or favorite outfit. I love bright colors and holiday ideas. I will imagine a color combination and I can't wait to get started on a new shoe. I normally use darker colors in the winter and giggley colors in the spring. It has been harder for me to create shoes for boys so I am focusing on that at the moment with a new boot pattern.

Apart from creating I love dinking around my home and and soaking up the sunshine whenever I can. I love long walks by the river and antiquing or junking with my husband.

It was a great pleasure working with Kate. Her customer service skills were above excellent. She made sure that our Cozy Toes fit Emma perfectly and that would be the perfect shade and design to make the perfect outfit. Kate sent us the Purple Polka Dot Cozy Toes. The shoes are made with Purple Felt on the outside and white with purple dots on the inside. Kate added the leather bottoms to the shoes for added foot protection. I think that since Emma is walking it is important to add that extra layer of protection. The inside of the shoes do not contain seams for added comfort. Kate personally makes every pair of Cozy Toes ordered and uses both machine and hand stitching to make them perfect for your little one.

I also really like that the shoes snap. I have found that the velcro closing shoes do not have as long a life and tend to tear off. Kate is also able to add embellishments to Cozy Toes for an even more unique look for your little one. But Kate doesn't only make girl shoes. She has several boy creations and loves working with customers to complete a custom order.

Bet you want one, huh?

Head on over to Cozy Toes and pick up your favorite pair of felt shoes.

Bet you would rather win one, huh?

Kate is awesome and she is offering 1 Luvn Life reader the chance to win a pair of shoes in their color and size of choice.

Mandatory Entry:

You must be a follower of Luvn Life and then Cozy Toes and tell me what you love.

Optional Entries:

~Heart Kate's shop

~Subscribe to my blog

~Follow me on Twitter and tweet this giveaway(can be done daily): @luvnlifeOO Enter to win a pair of Felt Shoes from Cozy Toes Etsy Shop http://tinyurl.com/37qw5nz

~Grab my new button (5 entries)

~Grab my Birthday Bash Button (1 entry unless you grabbed early then it is 5)

~Enter another giveaway on my blog (1 entry each)

~Blog about my giveaway with a link to the giveaway here and to Cozy Toes(5 separate entries if you blogged early, 1 if you blogged on or after July 1st)

~List my giveaway on a giveaway site or Mr. Linky and leave me the link (1 entry per listing)

~Make a purchase from Cozy Toes before the Giveaway is finished (10 entries)


Each entry needs to be a separate comment. Also, please leave a valid email address for me to contact you unless it is in your profile. Cozy Toes giveaway will end at 11:59pm on August 12th, 2010. Winners will be chosen via randomorg.com and the winner has 48 respond and to send correct mailing information or I will draw another winner.



**I received the above stated product to review. No other compensation was received. Receiving the sample in no way influenced my statements in the review. The opinions expressed are my own and your opinions may differ.**

Winners!

Here are the first set of winners:

Mama Runs With Scissors:

Julia said... 92
like the SWEET VALENTINE'S DAY STRIPEY HEART--APPLIQUED ONESIE and LEG WARMER

Homemade Building Blocks:

andrea v said... 35
http://twitter.com/vickers2622/statuses/18190397249

Mari Mac Kids:

Chelsey said... 65
http://twitter.com/Yeslech/status/19024643678

Congrats to the winners....More winners to come and many more giveaways!

Im emailing you now. 48hrs to respond!

Xpressions That Stick Review and Giveaway

As most of you know, I have just begun to decorate Emma's room because for almost 2 years, she has been in my room. I am very excited to making this step except that I am NOT a decorator. I have not been given the gift of the decorating eye. So, I use Emma's bed set, which is pink and brown circles, and with help from the pros, I have begun to bring her room together. One huge part of her room came from Xpressions That Stick Etsy Shop. I was given the chance to review the Caterpillar Decal with Emma's name.

Here is a bit about Dawn:

My name is Dawn. I’m 30 years young and married to superman. I have 4 super kids and 2 super dogs. Together we are taking on the world one day at a time. 3 of my kids are in school. There ages are 11,9,7,3. I am the owner of Xpressions That Stick, a vinyl art business that I launched back in May of 2009 on Etsy.com. I love Etsy! When I started creating vinyl art I had no Idea what fun it could be. I started going above and beyond my competitors very quickly for two reasons. One, I design my own art. Most of your vinyl shops out there copy and paste from other sellers….boo! Two, I layer my vinyl for a very detailed and dimensional look. This takes more time than a single layer or printed design. Other sellers of vinyl are not willing to put in the time without raising their prices or may just not know how to do it. It is a talent that a machine can’t do for you. Most of my designs that are in my Etsy shop started as customer requests.
I named my shop Xpressions That Stick because I like the X in Xpressions and I love to Xpress myself with art. I did not intend on doing Children’s art when I first started Xpressions. I actually loved car graphics and large wall graphics. I owe my nursery line of vinyl art to the Monkey on a branch that is listed in my shop (my #1 seller). I was playing around one night with my design program and BAM! Plus at the time my son loved monkeys. From there on out I received request after request to match baby bedding designs and characters. Now I find it hard to break from the Children’s line of art because I love it and it is so much fun to design!
I started selling on Etsy because a friend of mine suggested it. I do not have a website up and running yet. It’s a work in progress ;). When I first started selling on Etsy I had 2 other jobs. As of November of 09 I am all Esty! For someone considering selling on Etsy, go for it! It is super easy to get started and list your items in your shop. Be sure to have great pictures of your product!
I look forward to creating a custom vinyl art for your home!




I was truly impressed by Dawn's customer service. I felt that she worked very hard to make sure our decal matched perfectly with Emma's room. I love when I, as a customer, feel that my wants and needs are important. You don't get that in the big box stores. When the decal arrived, it was very well packaged. This too is important because the USPS doesn't always Handle With Care. The decal included very easy to read and understand instructions. I was able to apply the decal with my husband's assistance. I felt that it was too big to handle alone. It went up easily without any problems. This decal has changed Emma's room completely and I absolutely love it. Emma is quite impressed with it too. She shows everyone her "patikider."

Bet you want one, huh?

Head on over to Xpressions That Stick and personalize your very own Caterpillar Vinyl Decal.

Bet you would rather win one, huh?

Dawn is awesome and she is offering 1 Luvn Life reader the chance to win a Bumble Bee Vinyl Decal Set.

Mandatory Entry:

You must be a follower of Luvn Life and then Visit Xpressions That Stick and tell me what you love.

Optional Entries:

~Follow Xpressions That Stick Blog

~Heart Dawn's shop

~Subscribe to my blog

~Follow me on Twitter and tweet this giveaway(can be done daily): @luvnlifeOO Enter to win a Bumble Bee Vinyl Decal Set from Xpressions That Stick Etsy Shop http://tinyurl.com/2b7snbx

~Follow Xpressions That Stick on Twitter

~Follow Xpressions That Stick on Facebook

~Grab my new button (5 entries)

~Grab my Birthday Bash Button (1 entry unless you grabbed early then it is 5)

~Enter another giveaway on my blog (1 entry each)

~Blog about my giveaway with a link to the giveaway here and to Xpressions That Stick(5 separate entries if you blogged early, 1 if you blogged on or after July 1st)

~List my giveaway on a giveaway site or Mr. Linky and leave me the link (1 entry per listing)

~Make a purchase from Xpressions That Stick before the Giveaway is finished (10 entries)


Each entry needs to be a separate comment. Also, please leave a valid email address for me to contact you unless it is in your profile. Xpressions That Stick giveaway will end at 11:59pm on August 11th, 2010. Winners will be chosen via randomorg.com and the winner has 48 respond and to send correct mailing information or I will draw another winner.



**I received the above stated product to review. No other compensation was received. Receiving the sample in no way influenced my statements in the review. The opinions expressed are my own and your opinions may differ.**

Giveaway Scout

I love entering giveaways but finding them can be overwhelming. I was introduced to Giveaway Scout, a new site listing the newest and hottest giveaways. They have the giveaways listed by categories so you can find just what your looking for. Head on over and check them out!

Mircea Bugs Bowtique Review and Giveaway

I knew when I began planning the Birthday Bash, that no ordinary outfit was going to be right on Emma's birthday. I had to find the most girly, frilly, bright and beautiful outfit that would make her look just like the princess that she is(and knows she is). It took me quite awhile to find a product that covered all the requirements, was birthday themed and assured a high level of quality. When I came across Mircea Bug's Bowtique, I instantly knew that Amy Jo and her birthday ensemble was perfect.

Here is a bit about Amy Jo:

1. Please tell us a little bit about yourself.- I am a SAHM with a knack for crafting! I have three beautiful children ranging from a teen to a toddler, and a newborn. I am a former Marine and pursued law enforcement for a small amount of time. Currently I am a full student of law and craft not only as a hobby but as a supplemental income. My husband is currently an active duty Marine and military is our way of life! I love what I do and do what I love.

2. What circumstances brought you to opening a shop and selling on Etsy- I wanted to be able to provide beautiful and affordable ensembles for the chic mammas on a budget.

3. How did you choose the name of your shop? My first born daughter Mircea aka "bug" inspired many of my creations, and the name befitting of a princess inspired our shop name.

4. Where do you get your inspiration?- My children inspire my each and every thought, activity, and craft. From their hearts through my hands we create the items.

5. Apart from creating things, what do you do?- Is there any other activities besides wrestling babies and crafting?

6. How did you feel when your first item sold-Elated, my self confidence came flooding back and I felt substantiated as an "official" crafter.

7. How long have you been selling on Etsy? Over a year

8. Do you have a day job or is Etsy it for you? Yes! I am a mom, that is a full time job!

9. Do you sell your products elsewhere, or only on Etsy? On military sites.

10. What is your favorite item that you sell? Hmmm...probably my newborn tutu ensembles. They sell like hot potatos and everybody loves that first picture of thier new princess in an affordable one of a kind MirceaBug and mommy creation.

11. If you could give any advice to someone aspiring to sell on Etsy, what would it be? If you make it, they will come :P

No picture or internet description could have come close to how it looked when I opened the box. The bright pin shirt was adorned with matching ribbons and crystal accents on the sleeves and a perfect cupcake applique on the front. The tutu was multi-colored and so fluffy. Just the right size for a princess. I was very impressed with the tutu's quality. It is multi-layered unlike some cheaper quality tutu's I have seen in the past. Amy Jo also includes a waistband for longer life of the tutu and sews the waistband for extra support and durability. We also received a matching party hat. This hat is nothing like the hats you can buy in the store. This one is cloth covered and ties with a matching ribbon and can be used over and over again without crumpling.

But birthday outfits isn't the only thing in Mircea Bugs Bowtique. Amy Jo also offers shirts, shoes, socks, costumes, diaper covers and much more. She loves and welcomes custom orders and can even put together the perfect outfit for you little man!

Bet you want one, huh?

Head on over to Mircea Bugs Bowtique and check out all of the unique designs.

Bet you would rather win one, huh?

Amy Jo is awesome and she is offering 1 Luvn Life reader the chance to win a $25 gift certificate to her shop.

Mandatory Entry:

You must be a follower of Luvn Life and then Visit Mircea Bugs Bowtique and tell me what you love.

Optional Entries:

~Heart Amy Jo's shop

~Subscribe to my blog

~Follow me on Twitter and tweet this giveaway(can be done daily): @luvnlifeOO Enter to win a $25 Gift Certificate to Mircea Bugs Bowtique Etsy Shop http://tinyurl.com/2ekbbh7


~Grab my new button (5 entries)

~Grab my Birthday Bash Button (1 entry unless you grabbed early then it is 5)

~Enter another giveaway on my blog (1 entry each)

~Blog about my giveaway with a link to the giveaway here and to Mircea Bugs Bowtique(5 separate entries if you blogged early, 1 if you blogged on or after July 1st)

~List my giveaway on a giveaway site or Mr. Linky and leave me the link (1 entry per listing)

~Make a purchase from Mircea Bugs Bowtique before the Giveaway is finished (10 entries)


Each entry needs to be a separate comment. Also, please leave a valid email address for me to contact you unless it is in your profile. Mircea Bugs Bowtique giveaway will end at 11:59pm on August 9th, 2010. Winners will be chosen via randomorg.com and the winner has 48 respond and to send correct mailing information or I will draw another winner.



**I received the above stated product to review. No other compensation was received. Receiving the sample in no way influenced my statements in the review. The opinions expressed are my own and your opinions may differ.**

Silly Me Design Review and Giveaway

Until this year, I have always bought pre-made birthday invitations for my kids and then just filled them out. I don't know about you but after I receive the invite, I write it on my calender and toss the invite in the trash. What a waste really. I'd rather "Go Green" and just make calls to everyone but who has time for that either. Then it came to me...Design (or find someone clever enough to design) a birthday invitation that people will keep. I wanted to have a catchy line or two but also feature Emma, and her year of growth, on the invite. I wanted these pictures to be an update to the family members that are unable to see her often. So when I had the opportunity to review birthday invitations from Silly Me Design, I was thrilled.

Here is a bit about Kim:


1.Please tell us a little bit about yourself.
Hello! I’m Kim Henrie. I live in beautiful St George, UT
I am a working mother to a TWO year old boy and have a
baby on the way. I love all things creative.......
especially sewing, photography & scrapbooking.

2. What circumstances brought you to opening a shop and selling on Etsy
I started designing cards for family and friends when a friend told me
about etsy. I have been HOOKED ever sense.

3. How did you choose the name of your shop?
I was driving to work one day, and there was a new ice cream shop
opening in town called {Spoon Me} Shop names had been on my
mind.... Silly Me Design just came to me.

4. Where do you get your inspiration?
I LOVE fabric. My favorite fabric designers are Amy Butler, Heather Baily,
and Michael Miller. Who would of though fabric would inspire cards?

5. Apart from creating things, what do you do?
I love spending time with my family. My husband is a full time student, so when he has time we like to do things together as a family.

6. How did you feel when your first item sold?
I can still remember! I had opened my shop in October,and had a bunch of Christmas Cards designed and listed. I have a lot of people inquiring, but no buyers. It was a little discoursing. It wasn't until February {4 long months later} when I sold my first card. It was a custom design for a Pink Poodles in Paris party. I was a little overwhelmed, but SOOO excited.

7. How long have you been selling on Etsy?
Almost a year and a half

8. Do you have a day job or is Etsy it for you?
I have a part time job,where I am a Sleep Consultant at IntelliBED.
They feature the best mattresses in the whole world.

9.Do you sell your products elsewhere, or only on Etsy?
Only Etsy for now. I am hoping someday have my own website.

10. What is your favorite item that you sell?
My favorite item I sell is birthday invitations. I Love how excited the parents are when they see the finished design, and then they contact me later and tell me how much everyone loved the invitations. It makes me feel really good about all the hard work I put into each design.

11. If you could give any advice to someone aspiring to sell on Etsy, what would it be?
Don't give up. I think it is hard to get started on Etsy, but once you get a couple sales under your belt you are good to go.
Have good customer service. Your customers are EVERYTHING to your shop.
Have good communication, and go above and beyond for every customer.... even if they are driving you CRAZY :)

Here is the invite:

Words couldn't even describe how much I fell in love with this invite before I even held it in my hand. Kim was wonderful to work with. She wanted my invitations to be perfect and worked with me, making several proofs, before we had it perfected. When I received the invitations, they were perfect. The quality was above standard. The color and details were amazing. Also, Kim included envelopes that fit my invites perfectly.

Kim also offers endless options which is nice when you have an idea in mind. If you see something you like, Kim will work with you to make it your own. Not only does she do invitations for birthdays, she also produces amazing shower invites, wedding invites, announcements and party's. Kim is able to print your invites for you or send you the jpeg file, allowing you to print at home or at a local printer. Kim also loves custom orders and challenges her customers to be creative.

I will defiantly be using Kim and Silly Me Designs for all my invitations in the future.


Bet you want one, huh?

Head on over to Silly Me Designs and check out all of the unique designs.

Bet you would rather win one, huh?

Kim is awesome and she is offering 1 Luvn Life reader the chance to win a 100 invitations, envelops and the jpeg file of any design of their choice.

Mandatory Entry:

You must be a follower of Luvn Life and then Visit Silly Me Designs and tell me what you love.

Optional Entries:

~Heart Kim's shop

~Subscribe to my blog

~Follow Silly Me Designs on Facebook

~Follow me on Twitter and tweet this giveaway(can be done daily): @luvnlifeOO Enter to win 100 custom designed invitations with envelopes from Silly Me Designs Etsy Shop http://tinyurl.com/2au3kf2


~Grab my new button (5 entries)

~Grab my Birthday Bash Button (1 entry unless you grabbed early then it is 5)

~Enter another giveaway on my blog (1 entry each)

~Blog about my giveaway with a link to the giveaway here and to Silly Me Designs(5 separate entries if you blogged early, 1 if you blogged on or after July 1st)

~List my giveaway on a giveaway site or Mr. Linky and leave me the link (1 entry per listing)

~Make a purchase from Silly Me Designs before the Giveaway is finished (10 entries)


Each entry needs to be a separate comment. Also, please leave a valid email address for me to contact you unless it is in your profile. Silly Me Designs giveaway will end at 11:59pm on August 8th, 2010. Winners will be chosen via randomorg.com and the winner has 48 respond and to send correct mailing information or I will draw another winner.



**I received the above stated product to review. No other compensation was received. Receiving the sample in no way influenced my statements in the review. The opinions expressed are my own and your opinions may differ.**

Darcey Lane Designs Review and Giveaway

When it comes to girly, My Emma takes the cake. If it's not frilly, dressy, and fancy she cares to have nothing to with it. Even though I look for unique items that highlight her features, I also have to consider what she is going to think about the outfit. Since she is only 2, I feel that I have quite a road ahead of me. However, it could be my fault {grin}. When looking for just the right outfit for a special event, had the chance to review the Disco Dot Darlin from Darcy Lane Designs. No boutique compares to her work.

Here is a bit about Darlene:

1. Please tell us a little bit about yourself.

I’m SAHW who watches her grandchild. My husband is my best friend, we have 3 kids all grown up, two boys and one girl. We have four grandchildren. Our oldest son has two girls and our Daughter has two boys. I started sewing when I was 15years old. We live in Middle Ga. Where is never snows..but this past year we received four inches on Feb. 12.. I’m a Christian and go to the best church in Warner Robins.

2. What circumstances brought you to opening a shop and selling on Etsy?

I wanted to try some where else besides ebay!!

3. How did you choose the name of your shop?

A friend Sharon was helping me think of names to use about 4 years ago. This is one of two she came up with. I pick this one because my daughter name is Darcie!!

4. Where do you get your inspiration?

I made a bib for my granddaughter first birthday with a cupcake on it that said Happy Birthday. From there is went into making a Dress/outfit for little girls for their first birthdays. Also my inspiration comes from granddaughter Jordyn!! She loves clothes with ruffles..

5. Apart from creating things, what do you do?

I love to cook(or say Bake)

7. How long have you been selling on Etsy?

Just over a year.

6.How did it feel when you sold your first item?

Very Excited. Every time I sell one. I guess I like it more when the reply with how they LOVE the Dress and quality is great.

8. Do you have a day job or is Etsy it for you?

I watch my grandsons now!!

9. Do you sell your products elsewhere, or only on Etsy?

I’m Still on Ebay.. I have done one Craft show and would love to do more.

10. What is your favorite item that you sell?

I love making outfits with lots of ruffles.. What was my favorite thing I ever made? I would have to say my daughter wedding dress. People at the wedding didn’t even know it was custom made.. I love to take an idea and redo it into what you want…

11. If you could give any advice to someone aspiring to sell on Etsy, what would it be?

Try it and stick to it.. don’t give up.

A picture says a thousand words...Precious! Darlene was so wonderful to work with. She wanted to make sure my Emma had the perfect fitting outfit so she made sure that she had the exact measurements before making her outfit. I was very impressed with the quality of the outfit. The A Line top is lined inside and makes for a sturdy shirt. This could be worn alone in the summer or with a turtleneck or long sleeved shirt in the winter. The shirt was also monogrammed with Emma's initials and Darlene also included 2 matching hair bows that attach on the shirt or can be worn in the hair. The ruffle bottom pants were just as great quality. I was very excited to receive pants. They will fit this summer and winter but I will also get wear out of them next summer because I can use them as capris.

Darlene also offers heirloom dresses, ruffle bottom diaper covers, sun suits, birthday outfits and more to come. Darlene loves to custom design your perfect outfit and includes precise washing and drying instructions. You can't find quality and prices like Darcey Lane Designs in stores or the Internet.

Bet you want one, huh?

Head on over to Darcey Lane Designs and check out all of the unique designs.

Bet you would rather win one, huh?

Darlene is awesome and she is offering 1 Luvn Life reader the chance to win a $25.00 Gift Certificate to her shop.

Mandatory Entry:

You must be a follower of Luvn Life and then Visit Darcey Lane Designs and tell me what you love.

Optional Entries:

~Heart Darlene's shop

~Subscribe to my blog

~Follow darceylanedesig on Twitter

~Follow me on Twitter and tweet this giveaway(can be done daily): @luvnlifeOO Enter to win a $25.00 Gift Certificate from Darcey Lane Designs Etsy Shop @darceylanedesig http://tinyurl.com/23qrmrn

~Grab my new button (5 entries)

~Grab my Birthday Bash Button (1 entry unless you grabbed early then it is 5)

~Enter another giveaway on my blog (1 entry each)

~Blog about my giveaway with a link to the giveaway here and to Darcey Lane Designs(5 separate entries if you blogged early, 1 if you blogged on or after July 1st)

~List my giveaway on a giveaway site or Mr. Linky and leave me the link (1 entry per listing)

~Make a purchase from Darcey Lane Designs before the Giveaway is finished (10 entries)


Each entry needs to be a separate comment. Also, please leave a valid email address for me to contact you unless it is in your profile. Darcey Lane Designs giveaway will end at 11:59pm on August 7th, 2010. Winners will be chosen via randomorg.com and the winner has 48 respond and to send correct mailing information or I will draw another winner.



**I received the above stated product to review. No other compensation was received. Receiving the sample in no way influenced my statements in the review. The opinions expressed are my own and your opinions may differ.**

Rhonda D Designs Review and Giveaway

Guess who loves unique clothing?? Did you guess me? Well if you did, you are correct. I am defiantly a clothing freak. I love dressing my Emma in cute, unique clothing. And the only thing better is a cute, unique, personalized outfit for Emma. She is so funny when she wears something with her name or initials. She will rub the shirt and say "dis say Emmy." It it a great feeling to see my child in an outfit that no other child has or will have. So when I was able to review the Initial Outfit from Rhonda D Designs, I was very excited.

Here is a bit about Rhonda:

1. Please tell us a little bit about yourself.
I am a stay-at-home mother of 2 fun, energetic, and beautiful daughters. I have been married to my high school sweetheart for the past 15 years. I love the Lord, good friends and heartfelt laughter.

2. What circumstances brought you to opening a shop and selling on Etsy
When I resigned from the business world several years ago, I knew that I would need to find an activity to keep myself busy, (this was before I realized just how busy I would be as a stay home mom!). My youngest daughter was still in preschool at this time and was taking naps there twice a week. Instead of hauling her bed pillow to and from her school, I bought her a small “kids“ pillow. The problem was that the pillow, like most, was not washable, yuk! That’s when I decided to make my own. I made one for each of my girls and they loved them so much they showed all their friends, who began requesting their own pillows. After a couple years of making these plush pillows, I had scrap fabric coming out of my ears! I put that fabric to good use by adding them in creative designs to onesies and toddler shirts. The matching pants followed and have now led me to open my own ETSY shop

3. How did you choose the name of your shop?
I'm a creative person, but when it came to choosing the name of my business, I had a brain fart (pardon the language). I decided to keep it simple.

4. Where do you get your inspiration?
I can find inspiration everywhere, but usually when I am not actively looking for it. I have come to realize that it can't be forced. I will have moments when I have more new design ideas than the time it would take to create them. Other times, when I really need a new idea, I can be "blank" for weeks.

5. Apart from creating things, what do you do?
I stay very active with my daughters. They are involved in Dance, Swim Team, and Soccer. We are also involved in Youth activities through our church. I also spend time substitute teaching during the school year.

6. How did you feel when your first item sold
Incredibly excited! My first sell was actually from a family member in Washington.

7. How long have you been selling on Etsy?
I began selling my product on Etsy in mid-January, 2010.

8. Do you have a day job or is Etsy it for you?
Aside from part-time substitute teaching, Etsy is it.

9. Do you sell your products elsewhere, or only on Etsy?
I have been selling my items in a local boutique for the past year. However, I have recently decided to focus my efforts solely on Etsy.

10. What is your favorite item that you sell?
I love my Birthday Girl sets, but my favorite creations are the ones that are custom designed for my specific customers. Custom orders allow me to think outside my box and create something amazing and unique for someone who really will appreciate it.

11. If you could give any advice to someone aspiring to sell on Etsy, what would it be?
I still have much to learn about selling on Etsy, but I have discovered that if you put the time and effort into "selling" on Etsy, it pays off.

(Don't look at the shoes!)

Seeeee??? I could not describe it without a picture to pair with my words. The little shirt is a nice cotton fabric and is cut in a girl style instead of a normal t-shirt cut. The letter "E" is an applique that was ironed on and then hand stitched for both visual appeal and durability.

The cute, cute pants are just the same. Very soft and comfortable. The hem of the pants have matching fabric that is ruffled around the leg and paired with ribbon and a button! They are long enough for pants but she will get another summer out of them because in a few inches they will be capris.

Rhonda also pre-washes the material so that the clothes are true to size. She also does pillows, blankets, dresses and also loves to do custom orders.

Bet you want one, huh?

Head on over to Rhonda D Designs and check out all of the unique designs.

Bet you would rather win one, huh?

Rhonda is awesome and she is offering 1 Luvn Life reader the chance to win a $15.00 Gift Certificate to her shop.

Mandatory Entry:

You must be a follower of Luvn Life and then Visit Rhonda D Designs and tell me what you love.

Optional Entries:

~Heart Rhonda's shop

~Subscribe to my blog

~Follow me on Twitter and tweet this giveaway(can be done daily): @luvnlifeOO Enter to win a $15.00 Gift Certificate from Rhonda D Designs Etsy Shop http://tinyurl.com/22utngs


~Grab my new button (5 entries)

~Grab my Birthday Bash Button (1 entry unless you grabbed early then it is 5)

~Enter another giveaway on my blog (1 entry each)

~Blog about my giveaway with a link to the giveaway here and to Rhonda D Designs(5 separate entries if you blogged early, 1 if you blogged on or after July 1st)

~List my giveaway on a giveaway site or Mr. Linky and leave me the link (1 entry per listing)

~Make a purchase from Rhonda D Designs before the Giveaway is finished (10 entries)


Each entry needs to be a separate comment. Also, please leave a valid email address for me to contact you unless it is in your profile. Rhonda D Designs giveaway will end at 11:59pm on August 6th, 2010. Winners will be chosen via randomorg.com and the winner has 48 respond and to send correct mailing information or I will draw another winner.



**I received the above stated product to review. No other compensation was received. Receiving the sample in no way influenced my statements in the review. The opinions expressed are my own and your opinions may differ.**

Mile End Soap and Candle Review and Giveaway

Today was my Emma's 2nd Birthday Party! We had an absolute blast. Everything was great. I really didn't have a theme simply because Emma is not really into anything. She likes a few things like Elmo and Dora but not really. So, I made a really neat HUGE cupcake and decorated it myself. I have never done such things. I am not a baker...not at all. However, it turned out really nice. When I finished, I stood back and looked at it. Only one thing made this cake better...the candle. Now I could have used a store bought candle but I was lucky enough to review the #2 candle from Mile End Soap and Candle Etsy Shop. I am so glad I did.

Here is a bit about Sheryl:

1. Please tell us a little bit about yourself.
I am a mother of 2 little girls, living in Montreal.

2. What circumstances brought you to opening a shop and selling on Etsy?
When I opened my etsy shop a year ago, I had been making and selling my wares locally for 8 years. A friend told me about etsy, and I finally took the plunge and got it all set up.

3. How did you choose the name of your shop?
The name, "Mile-End Soap & Candle Supply" was borne out of the neighbourhood where I was living when I first started out. This part of Montreal is a creative cradle, nurturing countless artists, artisans and musicians. My idea was to be a local supplier of useful products that would bring pleasure to our daily lives.

4. Where do you get your inspiration?
I am inspired by what makes me feel good. The combination of essential oils, the smell of melted beeswax, the feel of the soap in my hands.

5. Apart from creating things, what do you do?
This is my part-time job and therapy. Full-time, I am a mom.

6. How did you feel when your first item sold?
My first sale was some birthday candle and tapers to a woman in Alaska. It was less than a week after I opened shop, and it was thrilling to make contact with someone so far away like that.

7. How long have you been selling on Etsy?
1 year.

8. Do you have a day job or is Etsy it for you?
I sell my candles and soap in 6 stores in Montreal, and I also do local craft fairs from time to time.

9. Do you sell your products elsewhere, or only on Etsy?
I sell my candles and soap in 6 stores in Montreal, and I also do local craft fairs from time to time.

10. What is your favorite item that you sell?
My favorite thing to make is the custom name candles. Each name is a new challenge and allows me to get really creative.

11. If you could give any advice to someone aspiring to sell on Etsy, what would it be?
Make sure you enjoy the process of creating your products, and the rest will follow.

I have to say that all around I was very impressed with Sheryl's work. This is not your ordinary store bought candle. Each candle is hand dipped in pure beeswax and shaped by Sheryl. Each candle is unique. I noticed that the beeswax candle does not burn or smell like a paraffin. No black smoke or smoke smell when the candle is blown out. Also, there was no wax dripping down the candle and onto the cake since Emma was a bit confused about what it meant to "blow out the candle." It took about 2 minutes to make her understand. Very little of the wax even melted. Not that I would use this again for Emma, it could be used again by someone else. I feel that the neutral and unique candle was perfect to top Emma's cake. Sheryl also offers personalized Name Candles, candlesticks, taper candles, and many varieties of soap. I am a very happy customer and will definitely be using Mile End Soap and Candle again.

Bet you want one, huh?

Head on over to Mile End Soap And Candle and check out all of her hand crafted designs.

Bet you would rather win one, huh?

Sheryl is awesome and she is offering 1 Luvn Life reader the chance to win a their own Birthday Number candle.

Mandatory Entry:

You must be a follower of Luvn Life and then Visit Mile End Soap and Candle and tell me what you love.

Optional Entries:

~Heart Sheryl's shop

~Subscribe to my blog

~Follow me on Twitter and tweet this giveaway(can be done daily): @luvnlifeOO Enter to win a Homemade Birthday Number Candle from Mile End Soap and Candle Etsy Shophttp://tinyurl.com/32jrthy


~Grab my new button (5 entries)

~Grab my Birthday Bash Button (1 entry unless you grabbed early then it is 5)

~Enter another giveaway on my blog (1 entry each)

~Blog about my giveaway with a link to the giveaway here and to Mile End(5 separate entries if you blogged early, 1 if you blogged on or after July 1st)

~List my giveaway on a giveaway site or Mr. Linky and leave me the link (1 entry per listing)

~Make a purchase from Mile End Soap and Candle Shop before the Giveaway is finished (10 entries)


Each entry needs to be a separate comment. Also, please leave a valid email address for me to contact you unless it is in your profile. The Mile End Soap and Candle Shop giveaway will end at 11:59pm on August 5th, 2010. Winners will be chosen via randomorg.com and the winner has 48 respond and to send correct mailing information or I will draw another winner.



**I received the above stated product to review. No other compensation was received. Receiving the sample in no way influenced my statements in the review. The opinions expressed are my own and your opinions may differ.**

OnMyOwn Review And Giveaway

One thing that I have never been good at it decorating. I am crafty and love to scrapbook and sew and bead but I can't decorate my walls for the life of me. Luckily, there are people in this world that are decorating savvy. When my Emma was born, we lived in a 3 bedroom home. I struggled with the rooming situation because I already had 1 girl who was 7 and 1 boy who was 5. I did not feel it was fair to bunk Emma with Leya so Emma spent her first year plus in my bedroom. I didn't have much to worry about along the way of how to decorate her room. However, when Emma was given her own room, I found myself standing in the room saying "wow, this is a boring room." Emma's bed set was the only color in there. I needed help and fast. When I was able to review a pink butterfly coat rack from OnMyOwn, I was ecstatic.

Here is a bit about Sheryl:

1. Please tell us a little bit about yourself.
Art has always been a major part of my life. I graduated from college with a degree in Art Education and even did Art Therapy for a short time. I love to paint! I am the mother of 2 grown sons. I keep telling my newly married son that I am practicing for when he or his brother decide to make me a grandmother. I will even do a mural!

2. What circumstances brought you to opening a shop and selling on Etsy
A good friend of mine and fellow artist opened a shop on Etsy over a year ago. She explained about the on line concept and although I was computer illiterate I decided to give it a try--I have since learned how to use the computer just so I can answer my conversations.

3. How did you choose the name of your shop?
I have been in business for 30 years. When I first started out I was a young stay at home mom with a two year old and a dream. When I told this to my husband he said, "you are on your own". So "ON MY OWN" has been my business name for all these years. For Etsy we I added 14 (that's my lucky number.

4. Where do you get your inspiration?
I get my inspiration from everything I see around me--nature, people, books, art work, etc.

5. Apart from creating things, what do you do?
I must say that most of my time is spent painting. My husband and I seem to work 24/7 these days. But in my spare time I love interior decorating, gardening and spending time with family.

6. How did you feel when your first item sold?
My first sale was phenomenal--I had just learned how to use the computer and there I was on it all alone when that wonderful Etsy convo appeared--WOW!!

7. How long have you been selling on Etsy?
I have been on Etsy for six months.

8. Do you have a day job or is Etsy it for you?
9. Do you sell your products elsewhere, or only on Etsy?
"ON MY OWN" is my day and night job. Along with my Etsy shop I also do some juried arts and crafts shows from Massachusetts to Virginia.

10. What is your favorite item that you sell?
I really love painting table and chair sets. I treat the table tops like a canvas and can paint an entire scene or design. I recently painted a special order with the Candyland game board as the table top--it was so much fun.

11. If you could give any advice to someone aspiring to sell on Etsy, what would it be?
I am fairly new to Etsy myself but would tell any artist that I think it is a great way to reach many new customers that you would not otherwise reach. The information is always coming in and the opportunities are out there. One of my first sales was to a customer in Australia--I could not have done this without Etsy!

I was very honored to work with Sheryl. When shopping for decorative items, customer service is more important to me than anything. I need someone that is patient and understands what I need. Sheryl was just that. She knew that Emma's bedroom scheme is Pink and Brown so she sent me something that would coordinate with her pattern. I LOVE IT! It makes my life easier *grin*

So, check it out...

Sheryl's products are all handmade in the USA and hand painted. The quality of this coat rack is above and beyond anything you are ever going to buy in the store. I quickly noticed that when you feel the rack with your fingers, you can feel that raise of the paint. Also, the paint has distinct boundaries. So in my opinion, it looks truly handmade and not built in a factory by a machine.

But coat racks is only the beginning for Sheryl and OnMyOwn. She crafts and paints everything from potty and rocking chairs to complete bedroom suits that coordinate with each other. I did quite a bit of research and Sheryl's prices for her handcrafted and hand painted furniture is a fraction of the price of the big box stores that only offer machine pressed items. This is hands down the best option. And, Sheryl loves custom orders for that perfect look in any room.

Bet you want one, huh?

Head on over to OnMyOwn and check out all of her hand painted designs at very reasonable prices with the coat racks starting at $27.00.

Use the code LNL for 10% off your order.

Bet you would rather win one, huh?

Sheryl is awesome and she is offering 1 Luvn Life reader the chance to win a their choice of a double hook clothes rack in a boy or girl pattern.

Mandatory Entry:

You must be a follower of Luvn Life and then Visit OnMyOwn and tell me what you love.

Optional Entries:

~Heart Sheryl's shop

~Subscribe to my blog

~Follow me on Twitter and tweet this giveaway(can be done daily): @luvnlifeOO Enter to win a Double Hook Clothes Plaque from OnMyOwn http://tinyurl.com/2dyzl29

~Grab my new button (5 entries)

~Grab my Birthday Bash Button (1 entry unless you grabbed early then it is 5)

~Enter another giveaway on my blog (1 entry each)

~Blog about my giveaway with a link to the giveaway here and to OnMyOwn(5 separate entries if you blogged early, 1 if you blogged on or after July 1st)

~List my giveaway on a giveaway site or Mr. Linky and leave me the link (1 entry per listing)

~Make a purchase from OnMyOwn before the Giveaway is finished (10 entries)


Each entry needs to be a separate comment. Also, please leave a valid email address for me to contact you unless it is in your profile. The OnMyOwn giveaway will end at 11:59pm on August 3rd, 2010. Winners will be chosen via randomorg.com and the winner has 48 respond and to send correct mailing information or I will draw another winner.



**I received the above stated product to review. No other compensation was received. Receiving the sample in no way influenced my statements in the review. The opinions expressed are my own and your opinions may differ.**