Be Featured on Shop Small Saturday Showcase!

So far, I have featured a nice little bunch of shops on 25 Days of Handmade Gifts and I have even more great features lined up for Shop Small Saturday Showcase!  I already shared with you my top 10 reasons for shopping small and I hope you are all onboard with me.  :)

Now, what if you happen to be an Etsy shop owner or own a small business of your own and you want to be a part of the series?

Lucky you, I am accepting submissions!  I want to spread the word about interesting, unique products, and if you sew/sculpt/solder/cook/crochet/bake/paint/fire/print/illustrate/craft/create something that you feel fits in with my series, I would love to feature you!

Getting Started

First off, I will need to know a few details.  E-mail me the following information with the subject line "Shop Small Saturday Showcase Feature Request", and we'll get started!

• Your Name
• Your Shop/Business Name
• Link to your Shop/Business website (if applicable)
• Links to your social media (if applicable)
• A few sentences about yourself, your business, and why you would like to be featured.

This will just be an introduction for me, and then we can get the entire process started for interviews, photographs, and more!  Also, if you are interested in a regular advertisement, check out my Advertisement page for more details.

The fine Print:

• I already have some features scheduled, so it may be a bit of time before we can schedule your interview to be posted.
• I do reserve the right to decline, only if I feel your business does not fit in line with the Shop Small Saturday Showcase series or if it is not something I feel my readers will enjoy.

I hope to hear from you soon!

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Why Shop Small?

For both this week's and next week's posts, I am taking a bit of time to explain why I think it is important to "shop small" and why I am continuing my "25 Days of Handmade Gifts Series" as the "Shop Small Saturday Showcase!"

First of all, what does it mean to shop small?  Basically, it means that you support the little guy rather than a massive corporation.  Some of you may already be familiar with the concept, because it has been recently gaining in popularity!  You may have heard of Small Business Saturday (the Saturday after Thanksgiving) designed to promote mom-and-pop shops during the busy holiday shopping season.

Here are a few causes that are closely associated with shopping small!

• Shopping local
• Buying American
• Handmade & artisanal goods vs. mass-produced
• Small-batch vs. Factory made

By shopping small, you automatically support most, if not all, of these worthy goals.  Isn't that a great reason on its own?  Well, if you need more convincing...

Here are my Top 10 reasons for why you should shop small!

1.  Small = Unique!

When you buy from a small shop, you are less likely to end up with the same old item that everyone has.  I would rather have something that is one-of-a-kind, wouldn't you?

Awesome L.A. pillows by Kheel's!

2.  Quality Goods

When items are made by hand or small-batch, that means someone has an eye on practically every part of the process, making sure it passes the test!

The small batch pickles at Pernicious Pickling Co. are so delicious.  :)

3.  Great customer service

Small shops really want their customers to be happy!  That means if you have a concern, they are extremely happy to help, and they definitely know their products.  By the way, because of #2, I have never had a problem.  :)

I loved all of the Peppermint items from Moxxie.  Satisfied customer here!  :)

4.  Supporting your Community & the local economy

When you give your dollar to a small business, that shop owner is more likely to invest their money in local resources for their own business needs.  That means you are helping to build your community!

In fact, the U.S. Department of Commerce reports that every $1 spent on American made products fuels another $1.40 in spending elsewhere in the US economy.  Woo-hoo!

Kat from Santore Company is proud to support her local community!

5.  Friendly shop owners

Small businesses don't have nearly as much red tape between you and the shop owner.  That means that you can talk about anything to them, and I have found that they are always happy to chat.  :)

The gals from Reclamation Dept. were so friendly and told me their whole story from top to bottom!

6.  Custom work!

Because you can talk directly to shop owners (#5) who make everything from start to finish, you can get exactly what you want!  In fact, some of the favorite gifts I have given have been custom items from local, small businesses.

Kate from Small and Great does AWESOME custom work!

7.  Supporting someone's dream!

It is hard to be an entrepreneur, so why not support the little guy!  Most of the shop owners I have spoken to have a day job but their small business is their ultimate dream.  I would love to help achieve that dream, wouldn't you?

For small businesses that have been passed down from previous generations, they need continued support to stay in business.  I love seeing those signs that say how long they have been in business!

33stewartavenue talked about how the long commute to his day job inspires some of his work!

8.  Job creation

When small businesses grow, they create jobs.  Also, they tend to provide better wages and benefits than larger corporations do.  Enough said!

I talked with Tricia and her assistant about the beautiful products from Tricia Ree Ceramics!

9.  Indirectly “pay it forward”

Over 90% of small business owners support their communities through volunteering or donations.  In fact, non-profit organizations receive on average 250% more support from small businesses than from large businesseses!

Olivia from atiliay always gives back with her focus on donating to non-profit organization!

10.  Shopping small means you are buying American!

Why does buying American matter?  ABC World News reported if each American spent just $64 on American-made goods during holiday shopping, the result would be 200,000 new jobs. That's awesome!

Amy & Griselda from Peppered Up Foods use tried and true recipes for their tasty treats!

Some people have also said that shopping small is associated with a reduced environmental impact due to less transportation costs, less waste, and investment in local resources.  I mean, that's a bonus reason on top of 10 really great ones.  :)

I hope you join me in supporting all of the awesome people I have met recently and their small businesses!  See all of the great shops here, if you missed them the first time around.

Do you already focus on "shopping small" or is this new to you?

Sources:
www.ilsr.org/why-support-locally-owned-businesses/
http://www.foxnews.com/opinion/2013/11/29/top-ten-reasons-to-shop-small-on-small-business-saturday/
http://sustainableconnections.org/thinklocal/why

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25 Days of Handmade Gifts - Wrap-up & GIVEAWAY!

*Update*  Here are the Top 10 Reasons why I shop small!

*Update 2*  Want to be featured on my Shop Small Saturday Showcase series?  Read up on the details here.

I truly cannot believe all of the great shops I have had the chance to work with!  For each of the 31 shops below, the interviews were fantastic, the goods were unique, and the deals were amazing!  I wanted to wrap up the series and give you all the chance to see any of the features that you may have missed.

To celebrate the end of the series, I have a bonus giveaway at the bottom of the post!  Also, don't forget to enter the rest of the giveaways that are still open.  :)


Also, don't forget that after a couple of weeks off for the holidays, I will have the "Shop Small Saturday Showcase" every Saturday featuring all kinds of new shops.  I am so excited for that!

Happy browsing and shopping!

Crafted Gifts	Bags & Purses	Men's Clothing
Delicious Artisanal Foods	Jewelry	Children's Clothing
Home Decor & Accessories	Paper & Stationery	Bath & Beauty
Accessories	Women's Clothing	Everything Else!

Crafted Gifts

Small and Great	Kheel's
Hallo Jak!	Mi So Happi

Delicious Artisanal Foods

Pernicious Pickling Co.

Peppered Up Foods

Home Decor & Accessories

Traditionally Unique	Tricia Ree Ceramics
33stewartavenue	Craftivity Designs

Paper & Stationery

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Handmade Gift Feature & GIVEAWAY from Craftivity Designs!

Today is the LAST day of the "25 Days of Handmade Gifts!"  I cannot believe it!  I feel like it just started, and we have met so many great shops out there that I am a bit sad that it has to end.  :(

Anyways, let us get to today's feature from Erica and Lora of Craftivity Designs!  I chose the shop from these lovely ladies as my last shop, because their prints would be perfect as a last minute gift.  And I really mean last minute, because they are a digital gift that you can gift as the file, or print yourself lickety split!  I actually won a giveaway from the two ladies a while back, and lucky for me the agreed to give away one of their pretty prints to a lucky reader!

But first, let's read a little bit about these two Kentucky gals!

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Tell me a little bit about yourself!

We are both from Louisville, KY and met years ago through our church.  We each enjoyed scrapbooking;  which was how we first started spending time together crafting and creating things.  Once DIY blogs become popular, we both started reading them and loved the idea of being able to share our creative ideas with others.  It wasn't until a few years later that we finally decided to jump in and start an Etsy Shop and our own blog.  We have been blogging and creating printable art for our Etsy Shop for just over a year now. It has been a great adventure -- you can learn more here!


Where did the name of your store come from?

We spent a lot of time brainstorming name ideas without any luck.  One day while making a list of words that described us and our love for DIY projects, we came up with Craftivity Designs.  Craftivity is the combination of both crafting and creativity which fits us both so well.  It is our love for crafting and creating that bonded us together as friends; and motivated us to share our DIY adventures with others.

What is your favorite item?

Erica -- My favorite item in our shop is our custom state prints! I love how they can be special to everyone yet unique to individuals and their hometown or favorite city.

Lora -- I am a huge map-lover, so our Joy to the World Print is one of my favorites. A close second is this one, celebrating "My Old Kentucky Home."


What is your most popular item?

Our most popular item is definitely our "I love you More Than.." sports team prints.  And as much as Erica hates to admit it (being a Louisville fan), we have definitely sold more prints to Kentucky Fans than any other team.

Where do you get the inspiration for your work?

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Handmade Gift Feature, GIVEAWAY & Promo from Duende Creations

Today's "25 Days of Handmade Gifts" feature is one that you are already familiar with from a previous post, but it almost did not happen!  After interviewing Bri from Reverie at Patchwork Long Beach, I wanted to speak with Christina from Duende Creations, but she was ridiculously busy.  Luckily, she was at Patchwork Santa Ana, so I had a second chance to feature her gorgeous jewelry.  Yay!

And as a bonus, Christina is offering a chance to win one of her beautiful pieces AND a discount code for all of my lovely readers!  The details are at the bottom of the post, but first read through the awesome interview.  Not only did I learn all about her artistic process and shop, but I also learned where the word "Olé" originated from!

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Tell me a little bit about yourself!

For as far back as I can remember, I have always been an artist of sorts. It started with oil painting in my childhood, later on I dabbled in photography and ceramics. I only recently got into jewelry making, about three years ago. It began primarily as a hobby, making gifts for friends and family. Then I took a class in metal smithing at my local community college and really became fascinated by the entire process. Wanting  to learn more,  I pursued and acquired a year long internship with an established jeweler, with whom I am now also employed. I work at my home studio along side my husband who is also a designer and artist.


Where did the name of your store come from?

The word "duende" is a Spanish word that has very deep roots. It is used most frequently by flamenco dancers to portray that indescribable feeling you get while viewing or taking part in an incredible performance. It's what sends the chills up your spine and makes you want to laugh, or cry. It is known as the spark from the divine that flows through you as though you were a medium for the creative. When the Moors invaded ancient Spain, they brought with them their tribal dances. They used to chant while they danced, "Allah, Allah, Allah", the Arabic word for god. The gypsy flamenco dancers took this influence and later adapted it into their signature "Olé, Olé, Olé". I believe we all have the capacity to experience duende because we are all human beings made in the image of a creative and awesome God. Duende Creations are my way of sending out a bit of the duende to rest of the world by way of my jewelry.

Why did you start making goods for Duende Creations?

I started making and listing my pieces online as a means to expand and share my art with more people outside of my immediate circle of friends and family.


What is your favorite item?

My current favorite item would have to be anything from the Santa Fe collection. I got my inspiration for this collection on a recent trip I took to Santa Fe, New Mexico for a friend's wedding. The Native Americans of the Southwest are renowned talented jewelers. They are most specifically known for their beautiful silversmithing techniques and use of locally mined turquoise. I decided to create a collection that would pay homage to them  by casting real genuine arrowheads into solid brass and silver and incorporating turquoise inlay work into my pieces. All of the turquoise in this collection was actually bought at the state line of New Mexico and Arizona.

What is your most popular item?

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Handmade Gift Feature & Review: Moxxie Essential Care!

For today's "25 Days of Handmade Gifts" feature, I have something extra to share with you: a review!  Not only did I have the opportunity to meet the lovely owner and creator behind Moxxie Essential Care at Patchwork Santa Ana, I was able to get an interview for you all to see the magic behind this natural bath and body product line!

Now, I chose four different products all with a "peppermint" theme because it's the holidays!  It was definitely a gift for myself.  :)  First, I tried the Peppermint Solid Sugar Scrub and it was great!  It was not too "scratchy" and the tub contained small cubes so I could use one at a time without getting the other ones wet.  Next, I tried the Double Mint Body Bar and it was amazing!  As you could tell from its name it had twice the mint, so it smelled fantastic in the shower but did not leave me smelling like an Altoid!  Now, my favorite find of the four is the Peppermint Lip Balm because it completely resembles another unnamed brand of all-natural mint lip balm that I used in the past.  The brand was bought by a larger company and no longer used all natural ingredients, and it changed drastically even though it is still available.  This is exactly what I have been looking for since then!  Lastly, I tried the Peppermint Moisturizing Body Creme, which was my real favorite!  I was expecting a thick creme, but it was whipped and lovely!  And surprisingly, it was tingly after I applied it on my skin for about 15 minutes!

Okay, that was a quick rundown of just four of the many products in the entire Moxxie Essential Care line.  Take a peek at how beautiful everything looks and start picking out your favorite scent!

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Tell me a little bit about yourself!

My Story 

I AM     Philosopher - Designer -  Innovator - Producer.
I LIVE   to Create, Transform and Impact.
I LOVE  to Design the Blend of Colors, Forms, Textures and Aromas.

Formulating plant-based bath and body products gives me all that and then some.

During the 80’s and 90’s I studied the art and science of architectural design, community planning and construction then set upon a mission to design and develop pioneering affordable housing for non-profit community organizations and innovative office work spaces for multi-national corporations on the East coast and in Canada.

Amidst the anticipation and excitement of Y2K I reinvented myself, pulled up stakes and headed west with my family.  My husband and I acquired and took on the challenges of managing a west coast B2B manufacturing business.  At the same time we nurtured and parented two wonderfully terrific kids into young adults.

Some years ago, I discovered the simple feel good pleasures of handcrafted natural soaps.  I then stumbled upon a beautiful color-filled book on the craft of blending plant-based oils, pure plant extracts and botanicals to make natural soap.

Ahaa.. It was a calling for me to take better care of me.  And to design again!   A calling to craft marvelously spirited natural bath and body products that promote healthy skin while nurturing the mind, body and spirit.

In 2010 I created Moxxie Essential Care as a commitment to honor my passions.  To reaffirm my authentic self.  To explore, design, and create.  To enjoy and share!

Where did the name of your store come from?

The true meaning of Moxxie is about seizing the moment.  About thriving in that special space where luxury meets practicality, where fortitude and exploration reveals positive energy and determination unleashes personal style.

moxxie
mox·ie  /ˈmäksē/
Noun
1. The ability to manage competing demands - day in and day out - with spirit and courage.
2. Positive, creative energy.  determination.
3.  Whole body, mind-body self-affirming care.

What is your favorite item?

hmmmm..  hard to say.  I rotate through the line.  Currently  I am really enjoying  the lavender lip balm because I am a lip balm freak and the lavender is a nice, light scent that surprises me with how smooth and comforting a felling it provides each time I use it.

What is your most popular item?

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Handmade Gift Feature, GIVEAWAY, and Promo from Mi So Happi!

For today's "25 Days of Handmade Gifts" feature, I have Sandy from Mi So Happi!  All of the shop's creations are designed, sewed, stamped, packaged, and mailed by Sandy herself!  There are so many items in her shop, that I had to make collages just to share my favorites.  :)  Definitely check out the shop because there were so many other items that I could not include in the post.

Also, Sandy is offering one of her creations to you as a giveaway!  And for those of you interested in one of her fantastic aprons, handbags, tea towel sets, totebags, or more, she is offering an exclusive discount code to my readers.  Thanks, Sandy!  Make sure to read up on all of the details after the interview.  :)

But first, find out what how kale inspired one of her most popular items and how her favorite item was produced from upcycled upholstery fabric!

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Tell me a little bit about yourself!

My name is Sandy Shishido and I am the owner/designer of Mi So Happi located in the Silver Lake section of Los Angeles. I have a fashion degree from the University of Hawaii and also attended FIDM in Los Angeles.  The Mi So Happi studio is packed with fabrics, trims, a large cutting table, a vintage "wolf" dress form and a few industrial machines. It's here that I sketch, make patterns, sew, carve out stamps, hand print and package fun & exciting fashion items and kitchen accessories like aprons, tea towels, table napkins and produce bags.


Where did the name of your store come from?

The name "Mi So Happi" is a play of  words. During a conversation with my boyfriend mentioning that all I wanted to do was to stay home and sew all day and that would make me "so happy."  He blurted out "Mi So Happi"!

Why did you start making goods for Mi So Happi?

I've been making clothes all my life. My mom is an expert sewer/knitter and made clothes for me and my siblings.  I remember doing a very early craft fair in Silver Lake that was really fun which gave me the opportunity to chat with customers and to get to know them.  I just continued on that path and shared a farmer's market booth with a friend for a while and did a bit of retail and trunk shows as well.  This evolved into making a complete line that was represented by a downtown showroom.


What is your favorite item?

My favorite item is a leather patchwork bag that I made several years ago using scraps of leather in shades of taupe and gray with natural upholstery fabric accents. I used my vintage zig zag machine to stitch up this bag and got so many compliments for its uniqueness and originality. I love the idea of repurposing, repairing and that even small scraps of leather can be turned into a functional unique object.

What is your most popular item?

My most popular items are my aprons and produce bags. I've sold aprons to customers in the United States and countries around the world through the internet.  In the New Year I plan to introduce a new line of hand printed aprons that will be an extension of my tea towels, produce bags and napkins.


Where do you get the inspiration for your work?

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Handmade Gift Feature: Artisan Candle Company

And now for something completely different for today's "25 Days of Handmade Gifts!"  At first, I was a bit unsure if I would be able to feature Artisan Candle Company after I found them at Patchwork Santa Ana, because I thought there was no way these pretty candles were handmade.  Wrong!  I spent a good 20 minutes sniffing nearly every candle in the huge display so I could share with you my favorite scent.  The good news is that there are so many great scents, and the bad news is that I can't pick just one!

Check out the entire interview below, including the unique reason that the Artisan Candle Company was started!

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Tell me a little bit about yourself!

I’ve been a very creative individual since I was a young child. From Jr. High through High School I made sure I immersed myself in any and all art classes available to me. Photography, woodshop, drafting, painting, art, ceramics … if it allowed me to tap into my artistic mind and create something with my own two hands I made sure I was involved.


Where did the name of your store come from?

I decided on the name Artisan Candle Company to convey not only my artisan heart, mind and soul but also the fact that all of our products are carefully handcrafted and hand poured to precise perfection … by a true artisan.

Why did you start making goods for Artisan Candle Company?

Working monotonous desk jobs most of my life really hindered my insatiable creative spirit which unfortunately was never utilized in the workplace. In 2009 the company I worked for folded and I, like millions of others, found myself unemployed and unable to find full-time work. To break up the monotony of applying for full-time work I would immerse myself in creativity. Wood work, sketching, drawing and painting, just about anything to keep my mind busy. It was in the summer of 2012 that I discovered my new creative path in life. I went to visit my mother in Northern Arizona and one afternoon during my visit mother lit a candle that I quickly noticed burned extremely fast and had virtually no hot throw (scent output when lit). My creative wheels began to turn. I began asking myself, “How hard can it be to produce a good quality candle at a decent cost?”  Once I returned to my home in California I began research on the candle making processes, styles, wicks, fragrance oils and types of waxes. For a couple months I worked diligently on creating a great candle. After countless amounts of trial and error, formulas and working with blends of waxes I finally created a candle I was proud of. After all the research and trial I decided on the use of natural soy wax. My little creative hobby was just that, a hobby. I wouldn’t know for sure how well my candles would sell until I tried so I booked myself for a small Farmers Market out of Yorba Linda. That first weekend was amazing. Although I only had a 10 scent variety and 1 size candle available the candles sold out. Had my creative hobby turned into something more? You bet! My little hobby was blooming into something fast. After talking to my partner, we decided to create a company and in August of 2012 Artisan Candle Company was born. In the short year and a half Artisan Candle Company has been in existence, we have grown to a successful small business which now carries over 72 fragrances (and growing) and candles available in a variety of sizes from small tea lights to large 25oz 3 wick candles. Among some of our most recent successes, we have been a 2013 featured vendor at Williams-Somona Artisan Markets at both South Coast Plaza and Newport Coast almost the entire year, attended countless festivals and fairs and now have a successful and permanent store located at Crafted at the Port of Los Angeles.

What is your favorite item?

I honestly love all of my candles. Each fragrance has its own unique bouquet with intriguing and distinguishable top, middle and base notes which make the scent really stand out. If I had to pick one favorite, it would have to be our Vanilla Bourbon from our Masculine line of candles. Fantastic base notes of Vanilla Bean with sweet middle notes of a smooth southern bourbon. It’s a hit with both the guys and girls alike.


What is your most popular item?

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Handmade Gift Feature & Promo from Peppered Up Foods

*Update*: Peppered Up Foods is no longer in business.  Thank you for your support!

Today's "25 Days of Handmade Gifts" feature is a delicious one!  You may remember at the end of the post, I brought back two delicious sauces with me from Peppered Up Foods for the whole crew to enjoy.  We sampled the Pepita Lime Chile and the Walnut Chile, which we had never tried before.  We dipped, topped, and drizzled until they were gone!  I love the story behind the shop, and locals should definitely drop by Sliced & Diced to sample their tasty treats.  For all of you non-locals, take advantage of the promo that Amy and Griselda are offering to you, with all of the details at the bottom of the post!

But first, make sure you are nice and full, or else the food pics might make you just a bit peckish.  Bon appetit!  :)

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Tell me a little bit about yourself!

Amy Eriksen and I (Griselda Suarez) have been cooking together for over 10 years. We have fond memories of teaching each other family recipes. Amy has over 20 years of food experience, including managing In-and-Out restaurant and Pluto’s in San Francisco. My mother, grandmothers and aunts taught me how to cook and I am proud to continue with family traditions.

Griselda Suarez is a writer, cook, and a teacher. She was born in unincorporated East Los Angeles and walked Whittier Blvd and Brooklyn Ave in black and white saddle shoes. As a Lambda Literary Fellow, she continues to work on her poetry collection and a body of essays. Aunt Lute Press, Seal Press, Acentos Literary Review, Finishing Line Press, NCOC Press, The Other Side, and OutSpoken Journal have published her work. Her blog chronicles Peppered Up Foods and has led her to a tantalizing experience with food writing.  She currently teaches writing at Cal State University Long Beach in the Chicano and Latino Studies department and at DeVry University.

To keep her inspired, Griselda enjoys meditating over warm suds and dirty dishes. She also grows fruits and vegetables at the community garden to feed her culinary creativity. And if timing is right, you can catch her reenacting her Quinceañera and reading books on how to become a Mexican calendar girl.

Amy Eriksen is an educator, cook, and musician. She was born and raised in Long Beach and is very familiar with Alamitos bay where she sailed many summers. She has worked for LBUSD, Idyllwild Arts Academy, and various universities across the state. She has over twenty years of food experiences, from working as a galley cook on a Long Beach fishing boat to managing a successful restaurant in San Francisco. Amy has a Masters in Organizational Management and is combining her love for food, service, and business with Sliced & Diced Eatery. She is enthusiastic about consulting small businesses and sharing the knowledge she has gained as an entrepreneur in her hometown.

When not working, Amy likes to relax in the ocean, in the bay or in a pool (a true water baby). Otherwise, you will find her playing games, all kinds of board games or her Xbox.

A selection of their jarred sauces and seasonings.

Where did the name of your shop come from?

We started at the farmers market in Long Beach with two Mexican chile sauces, Walnut Chile and Pepita-Lime Chile. So many of the products we wanted to make involved using peppers in of all their different forms. So it just came to me, we are making Peppered Up Foods. The pepper is present in both American and Mexican cuisines so we felt it fit our identity perfectly.


Why did you start making goods for Peppered Up Foods?

Amy and I have always wanted to start a food business and 3 years ago the time seemed perfect.
Many of our dearest loved ones have uttered the words, “You should sell this! I’d buy it.” When we started the company we were determined to keeping the integrity of recipes, peppers and seasonal products. Because we are inspired by the diverse flavors and fresh foods that have graced the tables of family parties and celebrations, we wanted to provide customers with sauces that celebrate mealtime and make it just a little easier to make delicious fresh food.

Sauces in production and in action!

What is your favorite item?  

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Handmade Gift Feature with 520 Handmade Creations

As I mentioned in the "25 Days of Handmade Gifts" announcement post, I loved 520 Handmade Creations' purses, pouches, tote bags, and keychains as soon as I saw them.  The shop's lovely owner uses all kinds of prints, colors, and fabrics to come up with her fantastic creations.  She comes up with gorgeous combinations, often using Japanese fabrics.  Not only do they look great, they are made sooo well!  It definitely puts my work to shame!

Read on for a few words from the creator behind every piece made by 520 Handmade Creations and take a peek inside one of her perfect bags!

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Tell me a little bit about yourself!

Ever since I was little I loved to sew.  I have been making bags for years for myself and close friends. But I seriously started doing a few years ago as a business.


Where did the name of your store come from?

It is originated from the area code of where I am from.

Why did you start making goods for 520 Handmade Creations?

After I played about the idea of going into business, I initially backed down thinking I would never make it.  Then, I thought why not?  And here I am!


What is your favorite item?

Hard to choose one. The granny bags are my signature bags. I find people respond well to the distinguished style.

What is your most popular item?

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Handmade Gift Feature, GIVEAWAY & Promo with Little Things Happen!

I am super excited to share today's 25 Days of Handmade Gifts feature with you today because it comes from Loren of Little Things Happen!  I bought a pair of her cute button earrings, which took me FOREVER to pick out just one.  :)  I do have a button-hoarding problem...

Anyways, Loren was so nice and friendly the entire time that I am so happy to be featuring her!  She is also doing something extra special for all of you guys...  a giveaway of your choice: a geode necklace OR a button earring set!  I hope you are ready to make a hard decision.  PLUS she is offering a promo code, so even if you don't win the giveaway, your "prize" just for being one of my readers is an awesome discount!  :)

But before that, read all about how Little Things Happen started, where she finds all of her awesome materials, and the hilarious names of her puffer fish!

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Tell me a little bit about yourself!

My name is Loren Harada and I'm the creator/inventor/designer behind Little Things Happen! I've had a creative bug since I was a child (I 100% blame my mother for this blessed curse!) I am constantly jumping between mediums (writing, drawing, painting, glassworks, stationary, miniatures, jewelry, graphic design... you name it, I've either tried it or am about to try it!) I attended college at UCSC and spent the majority of my time pursuing a drawing and painting degree under the warm tutelage of fascinating faculty members and brilliant friends who similarly cherished an endless world of artistic possibilities! Over the past few years anything that can be made with my hands and concocted with my brain has spilled out into the wonderful world of this little business and I couldn't be happier about it!


Where did the name of your store come from?

I spent a good afternoon trying to come up with a name that encapsulated exactly what I wanted to sell on etsy... at the time I had so many ideas I wasn't sure what to call it! I settled on "Little Things Happen" for two reasons. 1). My full initials are "LTH" for "Loren Teru Harada" and it seemed fitting to have a store that shared this deep rooted fundamental baseline :) haha 2.) All ideas (good and bad) start small and grow. I tend to find inspiration in the small things (colors, shapes, ideas, dreams, food, people etc.) all of which are the building blocks for something new... Little Things Happen perfectly describes not only my thought process but is also ambiguous enough for new possibilities! (Today is jewelry, tomorrow who knows!!)

Why did you start making goods for Little Things Happen?

For a small time after college, I began missing the constant creative immersion that school and Santa Cruz offered.   I enjoyed my desk job but whenever an opportunity to make someone stationary or to do an art project came up, I was thrilled! I LOVED absolutely ANY opportunity to be creative; making things with my hands, learning a new skill, collaborating with people, all of it was addicting, and I needed more! A friend introduced me to Etsy and I was completely sold on what it represented and the opportunity it gave people like me to share their ideas with the world. I suppose I did things a bit backwards because I wasn't sure what type of goods I would make (I'm still thinking about a ton of other shop ideas I'd like to start!) I looked at what I had and started to create (Scrap Booking Papers, Old Books, Felt, beads and buttons... lots... and lots of buttons)... A little list of supplies has become a long list of things to do!


What is your favorite item?

At the moment, I am deeply proud of my button earring assortment! Buttons have become somewhat of an obsession and I'm just crazy enough to remember where I found almost every single pair! (A Swap Meet in Pasadena, the local fabric store, goodwill etc.) There are so many varieties and shapes and I'm constantly trying to refine my techniques to make sure each pair is done with precision (a very OCD endeavor!) Aside from the buttons, strangely enough, my favorite part of everything has been the branding. I make just about EVERYTHING; hand painted jewelry displays, hand cut thank you envelopes, Hand made labels and tags for each item, Graphic designs for the store etc (Again a very OCD endeavor...) Make no mistake, making Jewelry is a huge part of the process and I LOVE being able to combine colors and materials, go vintage button shopping, and trying new stones, but all of it is a PROCESS, and when all is said and done, I am as pleased with the little marketing details as I am with the product. They all go hand in hand and are equally important to the finished piece!

What is your most popular item?

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Handmade Gift Feature & Promo from Rainy Dawn in April!

Today's 25 Days of Handmade Gifts feature is from Rainy Dawn in April and we're chatting with April, of course!  I was so smitten with her watch gear earrings (that bear an incredible resemblance to the Vintage Zest logo) that I had to buy a pair for myself!

April is offering a promo code to my readers, so make sure to check it out after her interview.  I love the source of her inspiration, plus she has the sassiest shop owner photo yet!

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Tell me a little bit about yourself!

My name is April. I currently live in Long Beach, but am originally from around Washington. I grew up in the forest and much of my inspiration comes from nature. Growing up out in the boondocks without many other kids around also allowed and forced me to be creative and use my imagination. From that I have grown up as a person who loves to create and make new and different things.


Where did the name of your store come from?

My store name has several different roots. Probably the easiest source to cite is my name is April Dawn, and I come from a state that is fairly known for being rainy. I was also born on a rainy dawn morning in the month of April. It also happens to be one of my favorite times when the rain feeds the new growth of seedlings popping up through the forest floor each spring and the fog has yet to lift in the mornings. I was lucky enough to grow up in a place where I was used to seeing deer with their fawns in our yard and garden on a regular basis especially during the early morning hours of spring.

Why did you start making goods for Rainy Dawn in April?

I have been making jewelry for about 7 years. My style has kept on evolving as I have taught myself new techniques and tried out new designs.


What is your favorite item?


I think my resin and photo pieces are my favorite. These items are totally unique. Many featuring my own photography from different natural places and adventures I can tell a story for each one. I have pieces that have photos that I have taken during hikes in places like Yosemite and Zion. Others I took closer to home like a popular photo of a bird on a wire that I saw from my bed outside my window.


What is your most popular item?

My flower and feather hair clips are probably my most popular item. They are an item that created by just playing with feathers and resin pieces one day and seeing what I could create. I wore the first hair clip I made out shopping and had several people stop and compliment and ask where I bought it so I just started making a bunch and coming up with a lot of different feather and color combinations.

Where do you get the inspiration for your work?

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