Awesome Patterns

Sunset Crochet has some of the most amazing patterns!  And she just posted 4 new ones on her blog!

I think my favorite is the snowman, or maybe the dinosaur?  (clicking the picture should take you to her blog also)

If you want to check out the rest of her patterns head on over to her Etsy Shop.

The Sewing Loft

The Sewing Loft makes quirky, handmade children's accessories made with the 3R's in mind. No not reading, writing and arithmetic, but Reclaim, Recycle and Reuse.

How did The Sewing Loft get started?What makes your items different?

I have always been passionate about sewing. Starting from a young age, I could be found behind a sewing machine. Then continued with formal training at The Fashion Institute of Technology. With a degree in Pattern Making and Fashion Design, I entered the apparel manufacturing industry. My experiences vary from top designer of women's apparel to the leading brands in children's clothing. Using my knowledge and experience, The Sewing Loft was created to help keep the creative juices flowing.

Why are your items different?

Our Collections are designed to spark the imagination in little ones and help them think outside of the box, even during playtime.

What type of materials do you use?

Each product line is created from a combination of eco felt, upcycled and repurposed fabrics, industry “scraps” and a few new fabrics. These materials provide the inspiration of our Collections while helping to reduce our imprint on the environment. We LOVE to upcycle!

Do you have a design or item that you are particularly proud of?

That would be my quirky dolls. . .The collection of dolls are made from reclaimed fabrics. Using these materials ensures that no two dolls are alike. Their faces are purposefully left off to inspire little ones to use their imagination. The doll can be a best friend from school, invisible friend or whatever they dream to be as a grown up. Really, the possibilities are endless!  I am wrapping up the final details on a boy version and look forward to their debut.

  

Be sure to check out The Sewing Loft, The Sewing Loft on Etsy and Facebook Page!

My Artsy Baby

Molly, owner of MyArtsyBaby, specializes in 100% hand painted, handmade nursery and children's room wall art. Her growth charts are her best sellers, but she enjoys other projects as well.

How did you first hear about Etsy?

I heard about etsy about four years ago from a friend in Nashville

Tell us about a little about yourself and your favorite craft/art!

I'm a stay at home mom of five from a very creative family. For as long as I can remember, I was always making, painting, or doing something that required imagination! I hope to instill that type of creativity into my own children. I use my art as an outlet, and enjoy it very much. I love painting wall murals, but also enjoy smaller scale projects, which is why Etsy is perfect for me.

How did you get started as a designer?

It was my search for unique baby items for baby number five that inspired me to open my own shop. At first I only have canvases in my shop. I put in an alchemy bid to create a growth chart, and that opened a huge door for me. They have become my best sellers.

What inspires you to create?

Everything. Life. My kids. I love browsing blogs and finding inspiration online.

How do you get the word out about your shop and Etsy

Word of mouth is great advertisement. I have many repeat customers, and several who've been referred to my shop through past customers. I am also learning the power of etsy teams. Facebook and blogs have also been quite a success.

Any advice you would give to aspiring designers?

What are you waiting for? Just go for it! Be you, and learn as you go. Don't be afraid to put yourself out there, and to make mistakes and learn from it. Don't compare yourself to everyone else. Keep your art real and original, and let it speak for itself.

Want a peek behind the scenes?

Check out Molly's Blog!

Want to see more of Molly's work?

See her Gallery of over 100 custom projects!

TZ Burps

Tara is a mom of a 3 year old, a part time teacher, and owner of TZ Burps!

How did your business get started?

 My business began when my daughter was 2 months old and I realized how many bibs we went through in a day.

What inspires your items?

As my daughter grows, my products do too to met her needs/stage in her life. Currently, the big thing is plush owls and birds. She chose owls as her bedroom theme when we moved last summer and have been a hit ever since!

How do you juggle 3 jobs?

It isn't easy, especially since my daughter has out grown napping for the most part. That was when I got to do my creating and sewing. Now it’s late night creating and less sleeping.

Any new items in the works to tell the readers about?

I am always creating new, fun themed owls, but my newest creation is bunnies for spring!

If money (and time) were no object what craft would you like to try?

I love what I do so having more time/money to see where I could take TZ Burps would be awesome.

Check out the TZ Burps! Shop and Facebook Page

Crafting Adventures

Heidi and Sara from Crafting Adventures are two stay at home moms, with 3 children each! Their love for making things leads from one adventure to another and now their motto is "We'll try anything once..."

What kind of items do you carry?

You'll find an array of things in our shop, some hand crocheted by Heidi and others sewn by Sara. Our most popular items are flower flapper beanies, newsgirls, Waldorf inspired heavy babies, and pillowcase dresses.

How do you juggle being a SAHM and crafting?

Heidi: I tend to use every spare moment crocheting. I love that crocheting is something I can pick up and put down whenever necessary so when there is a 'kid emergency' I don't feel too terribly interrupted. I have several styles of hats that I don't need to consult a pattern or use a lot of brain power but sometimes when I am trying a new style or trying to write out a pattern I have to wait until the kids are in bed for the night. Thankfully, my husband deals with the bedtime routine.

Sara: How do I juggle kids and the crafting? Well, as I type this with my right hand, I'm bouncing my crabby 8 month old with the left! I have 4 year old and 2 year old girs who play really well together, so I usually set them up with an activity, like watercolors, and while my baby naps in the afternoon I'm able to sit at my sewing machine for an hour or so. It's really all about finding a few minutes here and there. While they have an afternoon snack, I attach a sleeve to a dress.

If money were no object what crafting would you like to try?

Heidi: I would love to learn how to card and spin wool. It would be amazing if I had a room with a spinning wheel and a place to dye the yarn. We have a few acres out here -the perfect place to raise a few angora goats and some sheep!

Sara: If money were no object (and time for that matter) I would love to create pieces of furniture with my husband. A few years ago we turned an old oak dresser into a computer desk. He took it apart and I stripped and refinished it. It really turned out lovely and it's something we can pass down to our children. We have an old stereo cabinet downstairs that we plan to make into a toy box this summer. I love recycling pieces like that, giving them a new purpose.

See more great items from Sara and Heidi in their Shop and join them on Facebook for featured items and giveaways!

ABShoppe - Mother Inspired!

Holly from ABShoppe offers a variety of items for baby and mommy including shopping bags, natural toys, nursing covers, boppy covers, wet bags, and towels.

A Little about you and your shop:

I am a Work At Home Mom of 2 toddlers. I craft with fabric, sewing mostly cotton. My Shoppe is a collection of useful items for Moms, Babies, and Kids inspired by my journey in Motherhood. I do craft several different things but feel it pulls together nicely under the label of: Motherhood Inspired. I feature the categories: Diapering, Feeding/Nursing, Just for Mom, and Child's Play.

How do you juggle working at home and the children?

Working at home with two toddlers is a total joy! We do a lot of laughing! It truly is silly, I'm sure, to most who work outside of home. My studio/office where I conduct business is completely littered with toys and other "beloved objects" of my babies. They love to "help" Mommy by choosing which fabric is softest, most colorful, etc. Like I said, we just laugh a lot. Every part of work is fun and is a joy because I imagine other kiddos enjoying my work as much as my own do.

Do you have plans to add any new items to you shop?

I have many plans! Maybe I have more plans than I have time! Who knows? New items coming soon include art aprons for toddlers and a variety of sizes and types of waterproof wet bags.

What sets you items apart from others?

I am passionate about safe toys for our children. I work hard to embrace and comply with all safety standard for children and encourage the support of CPSIA (Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act).

Be sure to stop by ABShoppe and check out all the items and the Facebook page!

Bron Star Originals

Bron Star Originals is a family operated business that specializes in personalized growth charts but also has family signs, chore charts and more.  They even have custom charts for twins and siblings!

How did your shop get started?

When a new addition was added to the family, the search was on for perfect nursery decor. Little did we know, that we would have to choose between feeding the baby or decorating the nursery! Each time we found a piece of artwork that we loved, it just was not within our budget. So, we pieced together BronStar Originals (the new additions name is Bronson) with a graphic designer and my very own fairy godmother, everything she touches turns into something miraculous...and she just happens to be my mom!

What separates your decor from others?

Our children's nursery artwork has a contemporary feel and all colors can be customized to match your decor, just use our color chart to give an idea of what shades you are looking for and we will work with the customer until we come up with something perfect!

Do you have plans of adding any new items?

We do have plans to add other coordinating nursery decor items, what I am most excited about listing next are our Mobiles.

What are your favorite items to work on?

I think this is where my ADD kicks in...it completely depends on the moment and is forever changing. I try not to be biased, but when a customer shares details with me (who the item is for, the occasion etc) I cant help but give those items a little more attention. Its not intentional but I notice myself double and triple checking everything.

If money was no object what crafting project would you like to work on?

I love sparkly things so I would love to have one of the machines that set rhinestones for you...but unfortunately I do not have an extra 40-50k sitting around!

Be sure to check out Bronstar Originals Shop and become their fan on FaceBook!

Joyfully Sewn Designs

Joyfully Sewn Designs features skirts, dresses, jumpers and peasant blouses for children of all sizes!

How did you get started?

I was homeschooled all my life and was privileged to have a Grandma who loved to sew and passed on her knowledge and love of this art to me.  I've been doing custom sewing for about 11 years, and I'm still loving it.

Do you create your own designs or use patterns?

I do design some of my patterns, but mostly I prefer to work off of an existing pattern. Often I will use the pattern as a base and then I'll add/create something slightly different.. All of the skirts I make are from my own patterns as well as one of the jumpers.

Where do you see your shop in the future?

Little by little, I'm gaining more new customers and more repeat customers for which I am grateful! I'm continually working to increase my stock and add new variety to my shop. Someday I may even try adding patterns. I hope my shop will continue to grow and be a source of modest, feminine clothing for girls (and ladies).

What do you do when you're not sewing?

When I'm not sewing I'm often in the kitchen. I love to cook and bake, and spend most of my day in the sewing room or kitchen.  I also love to read, spend time with my family, get outside to enjoy God's beautiful creation, and spend time with children - including my niece and nephews.

Be sure to check out other great items in the Joyfully Sewn Designs Shop!

Frayed Fuzzies Quilts

Frayed Fuzzies features handmade rag quilts and quilted educational toys for kids from birth on up.

Quilts range from doll size to adult throw size.

How did you start making your quilts:

I'm a third generation quilter who likes to put a bit of a modern spin on traditional quilts. Growing up watching my mother, grandmother and aunts hand-stitch many a quilt, I never thought I would be doing the same---OK, well, not quite the same, I don't have the patience to hand quilt, so I do all my work by machine. My designs are a little bit less traditional than the ones that they make too. I guess you could say I'm putting a fresh, new twist on an old family tradition!

What makes your quilts different:

The style that I specialize in (rag quilts) is fairly uncommon, and lots of fun to make--and kids love the texture of the soft, frayed edges. All our quilts and quilted items are made with natural products whenever possible. All products feature 100% cotton fabrics (flannel is our signature), as well as the occasional polyester synthetic such as fleece or plush Minky (fabrics popular with baby and children’s blankets). Our quilts are designed to be warm, but lightweight, which is why flannel is the preferred material. When batting is used, it is always 100% cotton.


Check out Frayed Fuzzies Shop and Facebook Page.  And don't forget about the Newsletter!