Etsy Feature...

Woo wouldn't love this wallet?

The Fig Leaf is one of the coolest shops that works with leather and that's what I ♥ this shop. They are one-of-a-kind works of art! After you feast your eyes upon these, please show the Etsy artist Christa some love.

Functional and Fabulous!

How long have you had your shop?

Since March 2009


How did you learn your craft?

I learned out of a desire to make things for myself that I could use in everyday life. I then thought others might enjoy these items as much as I do.

Something for everybody

What inspires you?

 Everything! I get inspiration from the most unusual places and items - one thing leads to another and I'm off creating. I find a lot of my inspiration in the area where I live - surrounded my mountains, trees, and lots of leaves!

Leather Brooches

Why do you do what you do?

I have such a desire to make things for some reason. I can't explain why really, I just think about creating new things all the time - I have to keep a journal of my ideas until I get the time to create them.



Do you have any other talents?

I have a lot of other things I like to do... I love to bake from scratch new and healthy items for my family. I like to make my own makeup. I like to make my own jewelry on occasion. I also LOVE to take pictures as both of my parents are professional photographers I guess it's inherited. I'm far from perfect at any of them and with me, there is always room for improvement!

Whimsical IPhone/IPod Case

How would you describe your style, why?

 I'm not sure, maybe simple? Why - I like a simple, functional item that doesn't look too "busy".

Wristlet Straps

What types of products do you use, like to use?

Leather of all sorts, shapes, and textures.



Have you ever created a piece that was really hard to sell? What was it?

Yes, I once made a spider wallet, very unlike me, and it took awhile to sell.

Earthy Wallet

I know that you have a family, how do you find the time to make your products?

Nap time! Or after the children go to bed for the night - then I sometimes stay up late.



Please feel free to include anything that you would like us to know about you, your products, and your shop?
 
One thing others would never guess about me is that I come from an Amish background: my mother grew up Amish and much of my extended family still is Amish, living in Indiana
 
Don't forget to show some comment love for The Fig Leaf!
 

Elegant

Etsy Feature....

The House of Hearts is the next Etsy shop that I ♥ It is a shop that specializes in vintage items!
I happened upon Crystals Etsy shop while being nosey again, I saw her button on my friend Lindsay's blog and thought that her button was cool and so I clicked and here we are today! Funny how life works out eh?The House Of Hearts has some amazing stuff! Crystal is a very busy gal as you will see. Share the love and go comment!

How long have you had your shop?


I am new to selling vintage as I have only had my Etsy shop for 3 months now and loving every minute of it. This past week I just opened up another Etsy shop called Freakin Awesome Prints (freakinawesomeprints.etsy.com) this shop will be a collective of my boyfriend’s art and my art. Right now we just have Paul’s art in there but I am working on some really fun greeting cards.

How great is this bag?

What do you look for in your pieces?

When I’m thrifting (I think this might just be a term used amongst vintage sellers?) for the shop I always look for things that have great color, fabric, are gently worn and something that I would wear. What that means is usually I only buy 70’s and 80’s pieces because that is what I love!



What inspires you?

Wow this is a hard question because I draw inspiration from so many things and places. But I would have to say that my boyfriend is the hugest inspiration to me. He has so many dreams and he always follows them through, he is so passionate at what he does and it really shows. (paul-laberge.com) This really makes me believe and feel like I can do anything.

Great accesories!

I have a lot of sites that I draw inspiration from as well like for vintage and fashion I love Advanced Style (http://advancedstyle.blogspot.com/), LookBook (http://lookbook.nu/) and Calivintage (http://calivintage.blogspot.com/) And for art, home & writing I love these sites Seamstress for the Band (http://ontheflume.blogspot.com/), Drawn (http://drawn.ca/), A Beautiful Mess (http://abeautifulmess.typepad.com/) and Desire To Inspire (http://www.desiretoinspire.net/). When I look at that list it really is all over the board for inspiration.

Vintage Pill Box!

What classifies as vintage?

Now this is a good question. This comes up often in discussions with other vintage sellers. Etsy says that anything 20 years or older is considered vintage, so this means 80’s and beyond. But if you ask some of the die hard vintage lovers and sellers of vintage anything 60’s and beyond is considered vintage. So to be honest I don’t know what the true answer is. What I do know is that I love wearing something that has history & a story behind it other then just being made in a sweat shop by Chinese girls and then spent weeks in boxes and ships to get to North America.

Do you love this and want it for a spring or summer party?

Do you have any other talents?

I don’t see myself as an overly talented person but I love photography. You put a camera in my hands and I go crazy. I have a nice little collection adding up at home but I would love to add to it when money and space allow. I am just starting to learn how to design things digitally which I think is going to open up a whole new part of my creativity. I’m also a pretty alright dancer this is because I took so many dance classes while I was growing up to help me with rhythm while I was a competitive figure skater.

Here is an outfit I put together for you!

How would you classify your style?

My personal style is random and comfy. I mix and match all sorts of colors, textures, and eras of clothing. Sometimes it looks great and other times I wish I had a full length mirror at home! Overall I have to be comfortable and I am not the biggest person for treats. I figure why would I spend so much time trying to fit in when I am meant to stand out?



What's new, coming soon, what should we watch out for?

Well for the vintage shop (thehouseofhearts.etsy.com) watch out for many more items, lots of browns, crèmes and splashes of color for the spring. For the print shop (freakinawesomeprints.etsy.com) watch out for bigger print options, more cards and well some of my designs which I hope to have up in early March!

Feel free to stop by our blog for daily updates on both our shops, fashion, art and life thehouseofhearts.com

Another thing that I love about Crystal is that she cares about our Mother Earth! Always love that!
Don't forget to share your comment love!

Etsy Feature....

Moo Bee Tees is another Etsy shop that I ♥ Please show my favorite Etsy shops some comment love
Karen's shop is eclectic and that's what I love about it! Keep reading and you'll see why. She has things for BOYS too!


How long have you had your etsy shop?

 I have only had my shop since April 2009. I was a long time lover of etsy and it took awhile for the penny to drop that I could do this too! The shop is still evolving, but I'm loving the experience of being surrounded by so many talented people.

How cute is this Personalized Bunting?

What inspires you?

- Easy! Happy children! Sounds fairly ordinary, but I just love seing them smile when they have an item that has been made especially for them. My aim is to make clothing and accessories that encourage children to be children - I find so many things available make them grow up way too fast. I gather inspiration from just about anywhere, so I always carry a note book with me, just in case I have to jot something down.



How did you learn your talent? ie. self taught etc.

- I learned to sew at an early age (thanks to my mum) - I was given a Holly Hobbie sewing machine when I was about six and my first real machine when I turned 18, but I let it lapse in my 30's. I think a lack of confidence in my abilities had a lot to do with it. However, after trying to find lovely clothing for my daughter that didn't have slogans plastered all over them, I decided to just get the machine out and make them myself. I haven't looked back.

One for lil sister,

How would you classify your style?

- Hmm. Good Question. Perhaps I would say it was 'Kiddie Custom Chic'!! Not sure, Perhaps that's a question I can ask my customers.

One for big sister!

Why do you do what you do?

- I love it. It enables me to be creative and have fun. In fact I now think I have to do it - I get withdrawal symprtoms if I don't so something involved in creating everyday.

Can't forget our Boys! I know Chucky would love to put his cars, psp or anything in here!

Do you have any other talents?

- I tap dance!
How cool is that!



Do you make your own patterns?

- Mostly, but I also have some wonderful pattern suppliers that I sometimes use as a base, such as Whole Grain Baby and FrogLegsandPonyTails.

Ponytail holders!

How do you choose the fabric that you use?

- A lot of touching! My local supplier always laughs when I come in and walk up and down the aisles running my hands over the fabric! I do love the quilting fabrics (and denim, of course), but I also have a soft spot for independent fabric designers who make limited fabric runs.



Do you have a favorite fabric/designer, what fabric/designer and why?

- My two absolute favourites fabric designers are local Australians - 'Saffron Craig' and 'Ink and Spindle'. With Saffron, I love her sense of whimsy and use of clours. With the Ink and Spindle girls, I love their use of fabrics and sense of nature. Just lovely.

Pencil Rolls, love these for traveling!

What's new, what's to come, what should we watch out for?

- Well denim is my new muse at the moment, so I'm trying to incorporate it into all of my designs. I'm looking to add more tees and dresses to the line, but I'm also exploring ideas for more boyswear - they seem to miss out. I primarily want to create something for boys in the age range of 4-10 as they seem to be forgotten by the larger manufacturers. So keep an eye out, my ideas are always evolving.



Have you created an item that you didn't want to sell? What was it?
- Yes, but probably not for good reasons! Apart from the occasional creative disaster (a necessary evil!) there are occasionally items you would love to keep. I'm currently creating a one off 'art' tee for the winner of a giveaway that was held for me. I'm loving putting it all together, and I know it's a one off so I'll never make it again. However, I also know it's going to a lovely little girl in Spain and that delights me more than anything. So I'll take lots of photos and then get to work on another one!



Is there anything more that you would like us to know about you, your products, or your shop?

-I'm a wife, mum of two (and a cat) and live in Melbourne, Australia. I'm more than happy to create custom items, so if interested just convo me. I use organic cotton tees where possible and always finish my gaments professionally.

Of course Karen offers so much more in her Etsy shop so go and check it out and don't forget to leave some comment love!


Some links of interest are:
Shop: http://www.moobeetees.etsy.com
Twitter: http://twitter.com/moobeetees
Blog: http://moobeetees.blogspot.com/
facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Australia/MooBeeTees/160918222475?v=app_2373072738

Feel Me, See Me, Hear Me, Fear Me....

                   Pictures that I took when I went to the oncologist.....

L'Oréal Paris® Lash Boosting Technology..

I am all about the eyelashes and yet don't have the eyelashes of my dreams. I have gone through mascara after mascara, and even dabbled with falsies and let me tell ya that wasn't a good thing for me. I am very inpatient and like to see results yesterday. I have to admit, I never thought that I would be one of those women who looked like they have tarantulas on their eyes but I did when I couldn't get the results that I wanted, I packed it on until it seemed as though I had full, thick, natural looking lashes. But they didn't look natural, full or multiplied, I looked like a human with raccoon eyes. Those days are over forever for me


okay girls...
Have you ever wanted fuller, thicker, natural eyelashes that look multiplied?
Well I can tell you that it can happen!

I have been using the L'Oréal Paris® Lash Boosting Technology for 4 weeks now and can already see a big difference in my eyelashes. They are fuller, thicker, natural and look multiplied;}

All I had to do was apply the Concentrated Lash Boosting Serum daily under my mascara and nightly to bare lashes than apply the Double Extend Lash Boosting Mascara: first applying the Lash Boosting Primer than the Ultra Lengthening Mascara Topcoat. After a couple of days I could see a difference in my eyelashes. At night when I removed my mascara I didn't have a whole bunch of eyelashes in the swab, which was a bonus in my book! They are fuller, thicker, natural looking and they even look multiplied. 

Since I have started using the L'Oréal Paris® Lash Boosting Technology complete strangers compliment me on how long and beautiful my eyelashes are and ask what kind of mascara I use, they are quiet surprised to learn that I have been using the L'Oréal Paris® Lash Boosting Technology because many of us have tried this or that without the eyelashes that we dream of- those of little boys;}

Where did I get it?
Well I am happy to say that I am a BzzAgent and I recieved a sample of L'Oréal Paris® Lash Boosting Technology from the company to get my opinion and my results.