Meet Our Vendors-Amarilo

Tomorrow is the big day!

Want to meet one more awesome vendor? I thought so.

 

Ali from amarilo designs

Sew Funky Market: When did you first open your shop? What made you decide to open your shop?
amarilo designs: I opened shop a little less than a year ago. I decided to open it because I wanted an outlet (more like an excuse) to create jewelry, without the very high cost of making it a hobby. I am so glad I opened it, because it really helps me pay for college tuition.

SFM: What is your best selling item? What is your favorite item to create?
ad: My best selling item is definitely my "Little Bow Ring" in gold filled and sterling silver.

I believe it sells well because it definitely shows off being handmade from start to finish. My other best seller is my "luxe necklace ultra long". It is very long and delicate, but really beautiful since it is so long. I believe women love this necklace because it is very feminine, and looks very expensive, but it is still affordable. I make it entirely of 14 kt gold filled chain and bezeled cubic zirconias that sparkle exactly like diamonds.

    My most favorite item to create is definitely rings. My all time favorite ring to both wear and create is my "ethos ring set."

I love this ring because it is so different to anything I have seen or even worn, but still makes me feel pretty in a non conformed way.  I never leave the house without this ring! I am also biased to ALL gold jewelry. I also love working with gold, and although I can recreate everything in sterling silver, I can't get enough of the warming glow and spark of excitement that gold inspires in me.

SFM: Tell us more about you [your family, "day job", kids?, favorite things to do, your dog!, ways to inspire others, etc.]
ad: I am a college student, the poor kind. The kind where any money is sucked up by textbooks, tuition that makes me cringe, and of course the fees that go along with it like food, gas, and rent! I am concentrating on my jewelry business and transitioning to make it a full time job, but I also have my day job, which is teaching jewelry classes at a local Michaels…LOVE!
My favorite things to do are mostly jewelry related. I LOVE going to jewelry expo's, and finding gemstones of beautiful texture, unique cuts, and rare colors. I also hate going to these because I always spend TOO much.
I also love spending my time with my boyfriend, who is by far the most supportive individual in both my life and jewelry venture; without him, I really wouldn't have gotten this far, so I am extremely grateful for this amazing guy! When we have time, we go to the movies, and I drag him to previously mentioned jewelry expos; he's the best.

Be sure to visit Ali on her new blog (she's doing a giveaway when she reaches 50 followers!)

shop and facebook page

But more importantly- come out and see all our awesome vendors TOMORROW at the fall Sew Funky Market!

Meet Our Vendors-Shining Stars Boutique

Ready for more reasons to come to Sew Funky this weekend?

Jessica from Shining Stars Boutique.

Sew Funky Market: When did you first open your shop? What made you decide to open your shop?
Shining Stars Boutique: I opened my shop in November 2008 with a good friend of mine.  She actually suggested we do it on Etsy, of which I had never heard of (but have come to LOVE!).  We both liked making things for our daughter's that didn't cost us an 'arm and a leg' from an online boutique or in a local boutique store. :)  It was very important to provide items at a reasonable price that were also an awesome quality.  About 6 months after opening our shop, my friend decided to break off on her own and go into photography.  She left the shop to me and we both have done very well doing what we absolutely love!

SFM: What is your best selling item? What is your favorite item to create?

SSB: My best selling item would have to be my felt clippies.  They are just so popular!  There are so many fun and unique designs that are able to be used for a variety of occasions.  My daughter alone has hundreds of them! :)  I don't have a favorite item to create - I am a very crafty person and love creating anything. :)  I have really enjoyed making clippies and bows, though, as I love to see how excited my daughter gets when I make something new for her, or when a customer sends me a sweet message letting me know how much they loved their purchase.  It makes it all worth the effort. :)

SFM: Tell us more about you

SSB: I am 30 years old and have been happily married for 8 years.  I have 2 kids:  a 5 year old daughter and a 9 month old son.  We also have 2 indoor cats: Scrump and Shasta. :)  I used to be a florist for 13 years before I finally quit my job early this year to be a 'stay-at-home' mommy/wife and do my Etsy shop full-time.  It was a big decision, with today's economy and all, but I am doing what I love and couldn't be happier!  Maybe one day when my kids are both in school, I will go back to college to get my Masters in Psychology (my true passion!).

SFM: What is your shop goal [besides making money!] ?
SSB: After being inspired by my daughter (as a toddler) to want to be very girly with her hair accessories (and now that I have a baby boy, I am inspired by my friends and their baby girls!), I have made it my goal to not only have my 'little angel shine', but every little girl!  I strive to specialize in cute hair accessories that are made with quality supplies, are interchangeable for different looks, and also wearable by girls of all ages - not just babies and toddlers.

SFM: What's your design process?
SSB:  My design process is simple, really.  I tend to go with what my daughter likes and what my friends/customers request.  Once I have ideas in mind, I search out the supplies to complete them and when finished, introduce them in my shop. Recently, I have been able to use Facebook and my fan page to get some feedback from even more friends/customers than I had been able to before. :)

Jessica has a brand new Facebook page. Be sure to click over and follow her. And, of course, check out her shop and start making your wishlist for the market!

Meet Our Vendors-dogwood & poppy

Want to meet another vendor?

Amy from dogwood & poppy.

Sew Funky Market: When did you first open your shop? What made you decide to open your shop?
dogwood & poppy: I first opened shop in late 2009, shortly after moving to riverside. family and friends had been urging me to sell my jewelry for years, but it took me a while to get the courage to do it. now i'm so glad i did, but it was a little scary at first.

 SFM: What is your best selling item? What is your favorite item to create?
dp: because i make so many one-of-a-kind pieces, it's hard to say what sells the best, but they tend to be my chunkier, more substantial necklaces. my favorite thing to make is custom jewelry. i like interacting with customers and helping them flesh out their vision of what would be perfect for them or a loved one. plus the process generally pushes me a little outside of my everyday comfort zone and i like that. often i create new pieces that aren't perfect for the person i was customizing them for but end up being popular in my shop. win-win.

SFM: Do you have any tutorials you would like to share?
dp: yes, please! one of my favorite tutorials is here, a guest post i did at cosa verde on how i make my upcycled jewelry display boards. i also get a lot of people interested in my lotion recipe, which is the only lotion i use. it gets so dry here! and i wanted a cream that was made of natural ingredients, so i came up with my own. 

SFM: What's your design process?
dp: a good chunk of my inspiration comes from the stones i work with. often i walk into my favorite bead store {bella findings in downtown la} and see a strand that begs to be made into a necklace. not being good at resisting, i take several strands home with me. otherwise, i start with color, and build the piece from there. color is actually a theme throughout my life--you should see our orange dining room!--and i'm always searching for interesting color combinations in nature that i can translate into jewelry.

SFM: Where do you find you creative inspiration (people, places, bloggers, adventures...)?
dp: mostly i find my inspiration in nature, where i find interesting color combinations and shapes that i can borrow. i find travel really inspiring, as well. a recent trip to alaska has a few ideas running through my head. i always like to learn a new technique, too, so i keep my eye out for ideas on the internet and in books. right now i'm trying my hand at watercolors with this beautiful book by billy showell. she paints the most gorgeous fruits, veggies, and flowers, and her insight is helping me to really see what i'm looking at instead of what i think is there, if that makes sense. when i'm running a little low on inspiration {it happens to everyone, right?!} i turn to a notebook that i keep full of pictures i've cut out of magazines, ala junior high: some of jewelry, and some of places i'd like to go, and whatever else catches my eye. lately, i'm loving pinterest for the ability to capture web images that inspire me!

Run over and follow dogwood & poppy on her blog, Facebook page, Twitter, and Pintrest. And check out the latest new products in her shop!

Meet Our Vendors-Lauren Elise Crafted

Good Morning guys and gals! Time to meet another incredible Sew Funky vendor.

Meet Lauren from Lauren Elise Crafted.

Sew Funky Market: When did you first open your shop? What made you decide to open your shop?
Lauren Elise Crafted: I started my blog and opened my Etsy shop in March 2010 but I didn’t start getting orders and opportunities until the end of 2010.  I am a wedding and design blogger and have received a lot of exposure that way.  I have been lucky to work with many brides on handmade favors, save the dates, and other unique wedding accessories and paper goods.  I have always been crafty and hands-on.  I got my degree in architecture but after graduating I realized that my passion wasn’t necessarily for architecture, although I still loved design.  I wanted to make a career for myself which was more creative.  I became interested in the blog world, started my own, and began using my photography skills to take pictures of my projects.  People began to notice my work and respond well to it and soon I was guest blogging for more popular design and wedding sites.  I have discovered this passion for inspiring people to use their creative skills and I really enjoy sharing how to make specific projects or how to do certain crafty techniques.  I hope people will not only enjoy my work but that it will also get them interested in the process of making for themselves.

SFM: What is your best selling item? What is your favorite item to create?
LEC: Because many of my clients are brides, a lot of my work is super unique and specific to each wedding so it is hard to pinpoint a best selling item.  But one project I have worked on with many brides is my vintage bridesmaid hankie sets.  These are really special and I love working together with my clients to create them.  I get to know a little bit about each bridesmaid and then find unique vintage hankies and trinkets to symbolize that girl and to show her how special she is to the bride.  Brides can give them away as gifts at the wedding and the hankies are great for those happy tears.  I love treasure hunting for vintage pieces so this project allows me to do that as well as create something that has so much meaning for a bride and her friends.  I can’t say this is my most favorite project to create because I enjoy making so many things but this definitely has the most meaning behind it. 

SFM: Tell us more about you [your family, "day job", kids?, favorite things to do, your dog!, ways to inspire others, etc.]
LEC: I graduated college with a degree in architecture two years ago and felt lost and confused for the first time in my life.  I wasn’t sure of my direction but I knew I had to do something creative and hands-on.  Over the last two years I have been determined to make that happen for myself and fortunately my little blog and Etsy shop have continued to grow as I’ve gotten more exposure and received more opportunities.  I love to create pretty things for parties, weddings, or just for everyday.  I enjoy working away in my studio with my dog Scout by my side, dreaming up new creations.  I have extreme wanderlust and long to travel to Europe again (I studied abroad there in school).  Currently, I am back living in the town I grew up in, determined to get my business up and running.  I am single and have no children (unless you count my dog) so I see this as the perfect time to make my dreams a reality.  To help pay the bills I work part-time at Anthropologie.  I love vintage shopping and find myself wanting to buy all antique typewriters, old cameras, and sewing machines.  I love to read, take pictures, and eat frozen yogurt, not necessarily in that order.   

SFM: What's your design process?
LEC: My design process usually begins with a notebook.  I have a large collection of little notepads and Moleskines which I keep with me at all times so I can jot down ideas and phrases and sketch when I’m feeling inspired.  I also use them to make lists so I can check off my to-do list as I go.  Before projects, I always find picture inspiration online to help me visually understand my ideas.  I catalog them to Pinterest so I can reference them later, which is particularly helpful in those moments when you’re feeling uninspired.  Trips to the craft store also have a big influence on my design since I get ideas as I wander the aisles and see all of the materials.  Finally, the process of physically making something affects my design tremendously.  Sometimes my ideas seem really great in my head but once I start making them, the problems start to show and I have to tweak things and make them work a different way.   

SFM: What is your shop goal [besides making money!] ?

LEC: My goal is to not only inspire creativity in others but to get them to express that creativity and make things themselves.  The art of making things by hand is definitely something we need to continue practicing, not only as children but as adults as well.  I have found that I am happiest when I am creating and designing and I want to encourage others to find a similar outlet as well.

Lauren is everywhere. Check out her blog, shop, Twitter, and Pintrest

Meet Our Vendors-A Handcrafted Home

Hi there! Meagan here again.

Today we are meeting Brittany from A Handcrafted Home.

Sew Funky Market: When did you first open your shop? What made you decide to open your shop?
 A Handcrafted Home:  A Handcrafted Home Etsy shop and blog both launched in June 2011.  As I was finishing up my last semester of college everyone was asking about my plans post graduation and I wasn’t quite sure how to answer them.  As graduation drew closer, I decided to really invest my time and creativity into something I truly enjoyed. I was already rescuing old pieces of furniture and making used items work in my own home so my husband encouraged me to open an Etsy shop.  The best part is that I’m truly able to do something I love.  

SFM: What is your best selling item? What is your favorite item to create?
AHH:  Each one of my pieces is unique, so I don’t have one top selling item.  The whole purpose of my shop is to recycle old items by refinishing, repurposing or simply reusing them.  My favorite items are the ones that I’ve been able to recreate entirely.

SFM: Where do you find you creative inspiration?

AHH:  There are several blogs that I read for inspiration including Design*Sponge and Creature Comforts.  I also LOVE Pinterest because I’m able to see what others find inspiring which in turn inspires me.  I also find a lot of ideas in thrift stores and antique stores. 

SFM: What are you most looking forward to about the upcoming Sew Funky Market?

AHH: This is my first craft fair as a vendor which makes me incredibly excited to be part of this special event.  I can’t wait to meet all of the other vendors and chat with all of the people coming to the Sew Funky Market.  I am also preparing some very special items especially for the market and I can’t wait to share them with everyone.

 Be sure to follow Brittany on Etsy, Facebook, Twitter, and on her blog.

Meet Our Vendors- Earth Cookie

Time to meet another Sew Funky vendor.

Jessica from Earth Cookie.

Sew Funky Market: When did you first open your shop? What made you decide to open your shop?
Earth Cookie:  About three years ago after the birth of my firstborn I started tapping into my creative side.  Then as my husband says I can't seem to have a hobby that I don't parlay into a business.  However with this business I actually love what I do.

SFM: What is your best selling item? What is your favorite item to create?

EC:  Pinwheels Pinwheels Pinwheels and actually those are my favorite items to create as well.

SFM: Tell us more about you

EC:  I am a mother of two young boys (my pride and joy) and my darling hubby.  We live in Southern Cali and everyday I'm amazed at how blessed we are.

SFM: What's your design process? Where do you get your inspiration?

EC:  I'm a big fan of browsing craft fairs, flea markets and of course nature.  Nature seems to be my main source for inspiration.  Sometimes its just refreshing to sit outside and clear my head and then start creating with a fresh mind.

Check out Jessica's shop and follow her blog for all the latest Earth Cookie updates!

Meet Our Vendors-From Cali with Love

Meagan here.

Back again to introduce you to this week's featured vendor-

Daphne with From Cali with Love

 

Sew Funky Market: When did you first open your shop? What made you decide to open your shop?
From Cali with Love: Today! Haha, Actually, ten years ago i heard a pastor speaking, encouraging college students to pursue their talents, to let God direct you toward the gifts he gave you. If you have a burning passion to do it, obey God and do it. I had a passion to paint so I went home and did. I was frozen by fear to do what I love, but i just had faith that God will bring me throught it for His greater plan. Since then my friends & family really encouraged me to take everything to next level!

SFM: What is your best selling item? What is your favorite item to create?
FCWL: I do these funky paintings that are drawn with sharpie markers, acrylics, and have little birds, flowers and are totally abstract. Right now, I love doing birds. I'm all about the birds.

 

SFM: What's your design process? Where do you find your inspiration?
FCWL: I'm inspired by things that I see and love, things that brings me joy. I see things like children, bicycles, birds, etc. in real life and imagine them on canvas. Before I start I pray about it. Pray it doesn't suck! :) I'll take a sharpie & a blank canvas, add acrylic, and start. No time frame, minutes, even hours on each little part.

SFM: What is your shop goal [besides being profitable]?
FCWL: bottom line, to glorify God. I'm an encourager & enjoy using my paintings to show others how to overcome there fear and pursue their dream

 

Daphne is certainly glorifying God and using her talents in an amazing way!

She is a repeat vendor with Sew Funky Market and we are so thrilled to have her back!

Please take a few minutes to visit Daphne's new Facebook page for a few sneak peeks into what she is working on for our October show!

Meet Our Vendors- Paper from Heaven

Hey guys and gals, It's Meagan again.

Today we are hanging out with Katie over at Paper from Heaven.

Sew Funky Market: When did you first open your shop? What made you decide to open your shop?
Paper from Heaven: Paper From Heaven was created in August 2009, I had opened a online bakery earlier that year. I originally decided to open my bakery "Heaven Baked Sweets" because everyone told me my food was so good I could sell it, so I tried it out! After a few months of being online and selling and working from home I was hooked. That's when Paper From Heaven came along, although it originally started as paper crafts and once I got my sewing machine it morphed into the hand sewn products it is today.

SFM: What is your best selling item? What is your favorite item to create?
PFH: My best selling item, that's a hard one. For a long time it was my diaper covers because that's what I sold the most of. This summer I've transitioned my shop into bags

and kids,

I haven't had everything up for long enough to see a favorite trend. Honestly I don't know that I have a favorite to create, they all are basically the same process just a different product. I really like going from choosing fabric to a finished product, it's something that makes me smile. My newest item is the "Charlotte Skirt", I am having so much fun creating skirts and girly items because I only have boys.

 

SFM: Tell us more about yourself

PFH: My day job consist of being a wife, mom (3 boys under 5) and keeping track of our great dane puppy that's almost 8 months old. My husband is a great help around the house and with the kids to ensure that I am able to devote time to my business. One of my favorite things to do is spend time with the family, like mini vacations. Since my schedule is so flexible we're able to make trips to the beach, mountains, parks or just wherever. I enjoy doing crafts and making things from food to home decorations to things with the kids.

 SFM: Where do you see your shop in the future?

PFH: My shop goal is for people to have items in their life that help them to have a fun and functional lifestyle. I desire for my items to be useful so that people would feel they need them and actually use them.  My husband and I often talk about re-opening my bakery "Heaven Baked Sweets" in an brick and mortar store. It's a dream we have, although something we're not ready to commit our lives to with our small children. I struggle with still desiring to have the time to sew, something I've fallen in love with over the past few years.

Be sure to visit Katie at her brand new (dot)com, on her blog, Facebook, and on twitter!

Oh, and be sure to sign up for her newsletter!

I got to know Katie, her husband, and their youngest son, Jonah at the first Sew Funky Market as we were neighboring vendors. She is so down to earth and her products are gorgeous. If only my sewing skills were up to her level *sigh*

Come back next week for more fun interviews. -Meagan