Happy December! For today's feature on Shop Small Saturday Showcase, I have such a fun one for you from Noshkins. When I first saw all of Connie's cute and crafty creations, I was obsessed! If I'm being honest, I would love a set of her petit fours for myself even if they are made for kids... They just look so scrumptious!
Actually, the set that Connie is giving away (stay tuned at the bottom of the post) is a sushi set that people of all ages will love! But first, find out which special person inspired all of these creations, and check out some serious eye candy... literally!
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Tell me a little bit about yourself!
I grew up in Central California on the Monterey Peninsula. I’ve worked as a graphic artist for over 35 years, mostly with my own home business, Connie Simon Design. I love color, typography, well-designed anything! Growing up in the 60s was great—a real do-it-yourself time of my life. Drawing, painting, macrame, sewing, print making; so much to experiment with! • In 2011 I made a set of play food out of felt for my then 3 year old grandson to use in his play kitchen. I hated the plastic food available and thought the wood food as potentially damaging (kids throw things!). His reaction was immediate joy and engagement. He inspired me to start Noshkins, Inc. in order to share my lovingly made items with others.
Where did the name of your store come from?
I went through so many name ideas before I came up with one that wasn’t taken. “Nosh” is a Yiddish word meaning “a snack or small item of food”. The addition addition of “kin” to imply tiny or child related, Noshkins was born.
Why did you start making goods for Noshkins?
I love producing things of quality and detail. My grandson was the original inspiration. There are plenty of products for children that are cheaply manufactured or overly simple in design. I wanted to share something that was beautiful and well made to delight and inspire both the child and adult. I’m looking into ways to let the special needs market know about Noshkins. I’ve been told they’d be great for kids with autism or other sensory processing challenges.
What is your favorite item?
Wow! That’s a tough one! Each item has its own “personality”. The tea party sets are so pretty. I guess I am partial to the tomato slice and broccoli floret. The first time I made the broccoli I used a kazillion french knots. The texture was great but, seriously??? Then inspiration hit. I can get a lot of broccoli out on one bath towel and the texture is perfect! I find myself giggling as I finish a piece. My newest set of sushi has a lot of texture and the “seaweed” is attached with velcro so kids can assemble some of the pieces.
What is your most popular item?
I’m currently getting orders for my petit four set. I’d say my most popular single piece is the banana or any set containing the banana. The banana can be removed from the peel.
Where do you get the inspiration for your work?
Inspiration comes from the real thing. Food is so colorful and provides so many textures. The fun is figuring out how to make them in a reasonable amount of time.
I’m also inspired when I see a need. I actually have other products. Facekins came about when I made myself a set of reusable fabric facial pads. I hated throwing away cotton face pads every time I removed makeup. And cotton pads left fibers on my face and used up a lot of my facial product by absorbing more than I needed. I read that an estimated 689,000+ pads are thrown away in Devon, England every day. I use an ultra soft polyester that doesn’t waste product the way cotton does and can be thrown in the washer and dryer.
What makes your store unique?
I care about each piece I make. I design the patterns, sew the pieces, design and assemble all the packaging—all with quality and fun in mind.
What is the toughest part about making your goods/your artistic process?
The toughest part about making my own goods is that it’s all on me. When I participate in crafts shows I have to spend weeks making and packaging everything. I still get a kick out of how cute they look when each piece is finished. Sometimes I have to reign in the creative side that wants to add another item! My biggest challenge is being a business person when my soul is an artist!
Do you take custom orders?
All of my packages are available online. If anyone wants a custom order, a request can be made through my etsy store. The length of time needed to complete a custom order varies by the request. Some pieces are quickly sewn while others have details that take time. The price of an item is determined by the time it takes to make it. I’m always open to requests.
Where can I see more of your work and buy a gift?
Website: www.noshkins.com • noshkins.bigcartel.com • www.facekins.com • facekins.bigcartel.com
Etsy: etsy.com/shop/noshkins • etsy.com/shop/facekins
Facebook: Noshkins Inc. • Facekins
Twitter: @NoshFeltFood • @FacekinsBeauty
Pinterest: Facekins
Instagram: FacekinsBeauty
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I just love all of the adorable creations, don't you? Besides the cute factor, it's lovely that you can enjoy these sweets without any of the calories! :)
Before I gush too much about my favorite toy, let's get back to business! First of all, for this week's promo, use the code VZEST during checkout to save 15% on your order of $30 or more. Lastly, enter to win the fun sushi set by using the widget below, and as always...
Good luck!
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