Meet the Maker: Becca from Tuxedo Crafts

Happy Friday friends. How are you? How has your week been? My three year old seems to finally be on the other side of his cold and two of our kids were at bug camp all week, with our oldest visiting friends and family in Texas, it has been a very different but busy week. I have also been prepping for the 25 days of Christmas in July Craft Challenge that starts tomorrow. I hope you will join us for some or all of it. You will have the opportunity to win a custom made piece of jewelry from our shop Mt Nittany Creations.

Are you a maker or know a maker who would like a feature on our blog? Please comment below or email me.

Today's Meet the Maker interview is with Becca from Tuxedo Crafts. I am excited to share this interview with you and her beautiful needle workpieces. Without further ado, let us get to it.

Where are you from and where do you live now?
I was born in Nuneaton, moved to Suffolk when I was only 2 years old, but now I live in Ipswich, Suffolk, UK with my boyfriend. I don't really know any of those places but sounds like you have some done some moving around.

How long have you been crafting?
I have always tried different kinds of craft, from woodwork to sewing and making plushies. I have been doing embroidery since February 2017, so I still have a lot to learn, but I'm really enjoying it!You such a beautiful job for just starting out in February with your embroidery. Great job.

What drew you to needlework?
My mum had mentioned that she had lots of unfinished cross stitch pieces hanging about that she'd love to finish soon, and after looking at them with her, it motivated me to actually sit down and give it a go. I'm not one for following patterns, so I sort of made it up on the spot! That is so interesting how you just started making it up right on the spot. You have such pretty pieces.

What do you like the most about this type of crafting?
It's so therapeutic and creative. I used to come home from work and play video games or cook and by the time I got to bed, I didn't feel like I'd accomplished anything, but now I come home, embroider for an hour or 2 and I can look back at it, knowing I made it and I have something to show for the time I put into it! (Don't get me wrong, I still love video games) I am so glad that it is so therapeutic and creative for you. It is so important to have those kinds of outlets.

Do you work any other jobs or are you able to craft for a living?
I would love to be able to embroider for a living, but I have a full-time job as an interior planner for a big supermarket store called Sainsbury's. Maybe one day you will be able to make a living from it. That is neat that you are an interior planner.

When did you start selling on-line and what drew you to sell on-line?
I started selling online after my first little flower hoop got over 800 likes on Instagram, so around the middle of February. I started selling online as few people had asked me where they could get one, and also it has become a hobby that funds itself! All of the materials and equipment I buy has come from the money made on Etsy.What a blessing that you received so many likes and that your hobby pays for itself. That's great.

What hopes do you have for your business in the future?
I hope that given a few years, I would be able to take this hobby and make it into my own business. I also have a goal for myself to try and attend as many craft fairs as possible, but not to go too overboard!I hope that this will work out for you in the near future.

What is your most favorite piece that you have made?
Currently, it's my teal daisy hoop. It's so simple and lovely. Cool.

What is one thing you would love to share with others who are considering going into the handmade business?
Do. Not. Give. Up. I've seen so many incredible creators and pages slowly grind to a halt because of lack of interest, but stick at it, try new styles, new websites, craft fairs, local magazines, and newspapers. Etsy and Instagram aren't going to be the website for everyone to get started on, and all you need it one piece to take off and for everyone to fall in love with it. Please keep going!This is such great encouragement. Thanks for sharing.

You can find Becca online at the following locations.

Etsy: https://www.etsy.com/shop/tuxedocrafts
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TuxedoCrafts/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tuxedocrafts/

Meet the Maker: Louise Gee from Chick with Chainsaw

Hi, friends. How was your weekend? We just arrived back Saturday night from a very nice week long trip of visiting family, friends, attending a conference and an overnight for me and my husband. We had a very lovely trip. I especially loved the quaint cottage we rented for our overnight. What were you up to this weekend? Have you found any really cool makers you would love for me to check out? Or are you a maker who would love to be featured? Please comment below or email me. I love meeting and supporting makers in any way I can. Don't forget that starting July 1 is our annual 25 days of Christmas in July Craft Challenge.

I am really excited to introduce you to this next maker. She too loves to support other makers and she does it in a really fun way. She has created an online character of a squirrel that goes around tagging other shops that tag hers. Many makers know her because of this fun scheme she has going. I too have done a tagging war with her with my online tagging character of a unicorn. If you are around on a Friday and on Instagram, find a Follow Friday post and I am sure you will find Louise and her squirrel in a fun and delightful way supporting other handmade shops.

Louise was a winner of a feature on our Follow Friday giveaway post. I am excited to interview her and share this fun loving talented lady with all of you. Without further ado, let's meet Louise from Chick with Chainsaw.

Where are you from and where do you live now?
I was born in West Yorkshire and now live in a little village in the Peak District National Park, near Sheffield, in South Yorkshire, in the UK. I’ve worked all over the world, Europe, the US and even Spanish America, but Yorkshire has always been the place I call home. And it’s good to be back. That is great you are blessed to be back home.

How long have you been crafting?
I started woodwork around 8 years ago when I bought the house where I live now. It had a big wild garden and its own tiny wood and branches kept coming down in storms. So my urge to chop wood was practical before it was artistic. Initially, I just needed to chop wood up for the wood burner but then I started to realize how beautiful wood can be. This is such an interesting way to get started.

What got you started in making things out of wood and a chainsaw?
See above! But actually, it was even simpler than that. I wanted a chunky and rustic wooden cheeseboard and I couldn’t find one I liked. So I made my own out of a piece of laurel wood from a tree I’d pruned. Friends and family admired it, so I made another, and then I set up an Etsy shop and sold it, and I went from there. I don’t just do cheeseboards now, I make coasters, cufflinks, spoon rests, wooden hearts and fruit bowls too. But it all started with that cheeseboard. All the wood I use is either a windfall, so a branch that came down in a storm, or pruned branches, ones that I’ve removed to strengthen the tree or encourage it to grow in a certain way. So I can honestly say that no trees are harmed in the making of my products. Thank you for not harming any trees and for making a cheese board.

When did you start selling on-line and what drew you to sell on-line?
I started out with my website in 2014 but I just wasn’t getting much traffic. I knew my products were a niche so that’s when I opened an Etsy shop, to get in front of an international audience that loves handmade products. Etsy is quick and easy to set up and it gave me more visibility. Your products truly are unique, I am glad you started an ETSY shop so that we can all enjoy, especially those of us across the pond, the lovely pieces you create.

What hopes do you have for your business in the future?
More sales! I’d love to get a deal with a retailer, maybe a retailer who specializes in either handmade or wooden products. With a little investment, my business could and would be scalable, in that I could still design and easily teach others to help me with the making. I’d also love to experiment with resin. I’ve seen some fabulous wood with resin pieces and I’d love to try my hand at that. And engraving too. I don’t currently offer personalisation but I’d love to be able to do laser engraving in a way that doesn’t damage the wood. Oh wow, these are some really neat ideas for the future, I hope they work out for you.

What is your most favorite piece that you have made?
Definitely my laburnum wood fruit bowls. They have holes in the middle and they’re fabulously perfect in their imperfections. I’ve made two of them and I love their dramatic dark wood and their natural curls and swirls. The tree is a beautiful one, and it grows on tall and strong, with showers of golden flowers every year. I will definitely have to check this one out, it truly sounds lovely.

What is one thing you would love to share with others who are considering going into the handmade business?
Do it! It’ll be more time and less money than you think but it’ll also be more joy. Oodles and oodles more joy! There’s something amazing about someone else loving something you’ve made, and about shipping your handmade products all over the world. They’re all a little piece of you so every sale and every review of a handmade product is really special. This is so true.

Thank you so much for sharing Louise it has been a pleasure getting to know you better. I wish you all the best in your business.

You can find Louise and her unique wooden pieces online at the following locations:
Etsy: https://www.etsy.com/uk/shop/ChickWithChainsaw
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chickwithchainsaw/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/chickwithchainsaw/
Pinterest: https://uk.pinterest.com/gee0398/chick-with-chainsaw/

Meet the Maker: Shayna Gabor from Coconut Cuties Tie Dye.

Hi, Friends. Happy Friday. How are you this week? Have you found any fun makers, crafts or DIYs? Please email me or share in the comments below. I would love to hear from you and what you have found. If you would like to be interviewed for our Meet The Maker or you would like to contribute to our new Top Five series each week, please contact me. Also coming July 1 we will be starting our annual Christmas in July Craft Challenge.

This week, I have the special privilege of introducing you to Shayna Gabor from Coconut Cuties Tie Dye. Her tie-dye shirts are adorable.

Shayna where are you from and where do you live now? I Grew up in Cleveland, Ohio, but have lived in Fort Lauderdale, FL since 1993.

How long have you been crafting?
I have been crafting as long as I can remember. When I was a kid people would ask me what I wanted to be when I grew up, I would say an artist. I used to have a pottery wheel for kids, I did all kinds of painting, crafting, I even made and sold earrings in junior high school. Arts and crafts have always been an important part of my life. That is great that you have known for so long what you are passionate about.

Shayna, what drew you to tie dying? I first started doing tie-dye when my 20-year-old daughter was just a baby. My best friend and I noticed another baby wearing a cute tie-dye onesie and we asked the mom where she got it. She told us that her cousin sent it to her from California. We looked all over and couldn't find any locally. So that's when the lightbulb went off for both of us and we started coconut cuties tie-dye.What a fun way to get started.

What is your favorite thing about this type of craft? I love that every item is a surprise. I rubber band it and then I put the dye on it and wrap it up overnight and the next morning when I unwrap it to rinse it and wash it you just never know how the dye is going to travel in the clothing. So even though I may try to make two of the same thing at the same time, they will never ever come out exactly identically.That is really cool.

Do you have a job other than making? I have had a bunch of jobs over the years, but since having my son almost 5 years ago I have mainly been a stay at home mom, just doing the odd jobs here and there to bring in some extra cash. But currently, I am a contract card writer for chewy.com. That job I get to do from home, writing thank you cards to each and every one of their customers.That is an interesting job. That is such a blessing you get to stay home with your kids.

When did you start selling on-line and what drew you to sell on-line? I believe that I started selling tie-dye on Etsy about two years ago but I have had my shop since 2010 when I had started it selling wine cork keychains. Selling online is a great way to have a larger reach than just selling to your local market.That is fun you started out in selling wine cork keychains. It is so true that you are able to reach a larger market.

What hopes do you have for your business in the future? I would love to be able to help support my family with my tie-dye business, I just find it difficult because there is so much competition. But if I could eek out a little niche then that would be great. I hope that will become a reality for you in the near future.

What is your most favorite piece that you have made? I have made a lot of fun pieces over the course of time, but my most favorite is one that I just made this weekend and it is a tank top that was a custom order for a woman and she chose a red heart with a blue and red background, and it just came out so beautifully I love how the colors fanned out from the heart in the center it just came out really nicely. This sounds very nice.

What is one thing you would love to share with others who are considering going into the handmade business? It's really complicated topic because you may have a passion for something that you may be very good at, but it may not be a big seller. So I guess you would just have to be prepared for that. You can either try to do something where you know you will make money if that's your objective, or you can just do something that comes from your heart but you may not be able to make a living from it. So I guess just think about those things before you actually get started.Thank you for sharing your thoughts. This is great advice.

You can find Shayna online at the following web addresses:

FaceBook: Www.facebook.com/coconutcutiestiedye
Instagram: instagram.com/coconutcutiestiedye

Meet the Maker: Jess Fagot from The Coffee is Brewing

Hello, again friends! It's that time of week again where we have the special privilege to interview a maker and introduce them to you. This week, we are introducing you to Jess Fagot from The Coffee is Brewing. Enjoy her story and her really cute wreaths. If you would like a blog feature in our Meet the Maker series either, email us or join in on our Follow Friday feature giveaways. Have a great week.

Without further ado let's Meet the Maker, Jess Fagot!

Where are you from?
I grew up from birth until college in a beautiful town in Colorado. The mountains became a huge part of my creative inspiration and I spent hours out in the wilderness. There is nothing quite like a cup of coffee and campfire in the middle of nowhere.That sounds lovely. I love nature too. We live on the side of a mountain.

Where do you live now?
My husband is currently in graduate school at the University of Florida. He just finished his first year and has two more to go before he finishes! We love it here (although it’s super different from Colorado!) and there is a huge appreciation for the arts in this community. We are falling in love with the people here. That's great.

How long have you been crafting? I have been crafting off and on for about five years but really jumped into it earlier this spring during my maternity leave after giving birth to my son. That's neat.

What drew you to your particular craft or what inspired you?
I began to take a good hard look at the people around me and I realized I did not want to be where my coworkers were in five years. I wanted something more. I didn’t want to settle with just paying bills and dying. So, I quit my full-time job (which is a big deal because we are a one income family) and gave my homemade wreath shop everything I had. I believe in the power of home and the importance of creating a place where people feel safe and loved. A wreath is a statement piece that invites someone in and it was so special to me to craft something that said that. How exciting that you want to help build a place where people feel safe and loved through your wreaths. I am sure that passion shines through in what you make.

When did you start selling on-line?
I started selling online in February!Oh Wow so super new to it all.

And What drew you to sell on-line?
I did a little craft fair here in town and realized how much better it would be to promote online because of the vast target market. I had to do a lot of research for how to ship, how to market, etc but it has been super worth it. That's great.

What hopes do you have for your business in the future?
I am continuing to grow this little shop and I am excited mostly for all the people I will meet. I take pride and care to hand wrap every single wreath that goes out and it is such a special moment for me. I am so grateful for the opportunity to do this. I am sure it's a special moment for your customers too.

What is your most favorite piece that you have made?
Gosh - that is hard. I think my favorite wreath was a wildflower wreath…. It had flowers peeping out of all the grapevine and it made me think of Colorado. Sounds lovely.
What is one thing you would love to share with others who are considering going into the handmade business?
Today is the perfect day to start! We can make lists and analyze them to the point that they lose their magic. Take one small step at a time and move forward slowly. Slow is good. Dreaming is good. You only have one precious life — how do you want to use it? So True.

You can find Jess on the web at the following links:
Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/thecoffeeisbrewing/
ETSY:https://www.etsy.com/shop/thecoffeeisbrewing
Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/thecoffeeisbrewing/

Don't forget to come and join us here on our blog and in our Facebook group for our 2nd Annual Christmas in July Craft Challenge starting July 1.

Meet the Maker: Sydni Wright from Sydni Design

Happy Memorial Day! I can't believe that "summer" has begun! We are looking forward to warmer weather, trips to the pool, summer staff conference for my husbands work and lots of fun summer camps. What plans do you have for the summer? I would love to hear about them. 

I am excited to introduce you to another maker. If you would like to be featured in our Meet the Maker series you can take one of two actions. One pop over to our Instagram feed and join in on our #followfriday to enter for a chance to win a feature. Or email me at mtnittanycreations@gmail.com. Meet Sydni Wright from Sydni Design. She grew up in Southern Missouri and Southern Utah and currently lives in Orem, Utah.

How long have you been crafting and tell us about your love of embroidery? 
I have been crafting as long as I can remember, but the first time I ever embroidered, I was 10 years old. I love so many different craft mediums, but embroidery has a calming effect on me. I love the concept of creating a picture with a swatch of fabric and thread. What a blessing to find something that calms you and that you love to do.

When did you start selling online and why?
I started selling online this year actually. My Etsy store says I've been open since 2014, but I only started selling my embroidery and weavings in March! I wanted to sell online because I wanted to make my product available to everyone instead of limiting it to local markets, although I do those as well. Thanks for opening your product to those online. It is so pretty I am glad we get to see it too.

What do you hope for the future of your business?
I have lots of hopes for my business in the future, expanding being obvious, but I would also like to start embroidering on clothing and selling one of a kind wearable art. I love the idea of wearable art. I can't wait to see what you create.

Sydni what is your most favorite piece that you have made?
My favorite piece as of late is my St. George temple piece. I actually just sold that one this week, but it was one of the first temples I ever embroidered and I was so proud of how it turned out. Capturing perspective is difficult with pen and paper, but add in thread and needle and it's 10X harder. I can only imagine how difficult it is to create perspective with a thread and needle. You do it so beautifully.

What is one thing you would like to share with other artists looking to go into business?
One thing I like to share with other artists and makers is even though there is a niche and a market for certain things out there, don't forget to make things you love and have a passion for. People love buying things that others are passionate about. This is so true. 

Thank you so much for featuring me!!
You are very welcome. Thanks for sharing, it has been fun to get to know you better.

If you would like to see more of Sydni's work or follow her, you can find her online at these locations.
https://www.facebook.com/sydnidesign
https://www.instagram.com/sydnidesign/

Christmas In July Craft Challenge more info coming soon.

Meet the Maker: Karey Bitney from Karried Astray

Karey Bitney

Hello, Friends. Happy Friday! How has your week been? Ours has been fairly busy. One of the fun things we did this week was a field day for my three oldest children. We had some great sunny weather with a breeze to help keep us cool.

If you are a small shop and you would like to be featured in our series Meet the Maker, please email me to inquire.

I look forward to Friday's and our Follow Friday activity on my Instagram feed. Karey was a winner of one of our free feature giveaways.  I am so excited that she won. Not only does she have an awesome small shop but she is one of my dear maker friends whom I have met online. I have been truly blessed by her friendship in the maker community.

Karey is from San Pedro, California and currently lives in Reno, Nevada. She has been crafting on and off for years. She has done all kinds of things from paper mache to painting murals on walls.

Karey what drew you to your particular craft or inspired you to start crafting?
"Sewing is one of my passions along with other crafts and one year my youngest daughter who was 6 yrs old at the time, designed a dress on drawing paper and I made her dream come true for Christmas that year by sewing her designed dress. The first bag I made was crocheted with yarn and lined with fabric. Sometime in 2014, I found a Facebook group called Swoon pattern group and sewed my first cross body bag. I really loved cutting, ironing, sewing, and birthing the bags and watching them come to life. "

Karey started selling online in September of 2015.  What drew you to start selling online? 
"You can't buy unique, colorful pattern fabric purses, stores mostly just have solid color bags. I had sold bags to friends and family and thought the public would love to have one-of-a-kind handbags for themselves."

What hopes do you have for your business in the future? 
"I am hoping to offer different designs of handbags and bag sewing kits." That sounds really cool. I would love to try one of those kits when you start selling them.

What is your favorite piece that you have made?
"They are all my favorite but currently there is a bag I design named Nikki, and it's a cross body bag. I have a new item coming soon, which is a wine bag :)( I don't have a name yet) which will be my new favorite."

What is one thing you would love to share with others who are considering going into the handmade business?
"Don't quit, work hard and learn everything about SEO and advertising."

So very true. Thanks for sharing Karey. I wish you all the best with your adorable bags.

You can find Karey's adorable bags online at these locations:
Instagram: @karriedastray
Facebook: Karried Astray
Etsy: Karried Astray
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vHUbE3jmJMg
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-pBro4yMX2g

Meet the Maker: Rebecca Hang

How is your springtime going? Have you done any fun springtime activities? We have done some yard work and are now on a staycation, enjoying family time.

I am super excited to continue on with our series "Meet the Maker"! 

Today's Meet the Maker is Rebecca Hang from Ava and Ari. It is so fun to learn more about the people behind the small shops. When you buy from them, you are truly investing in their lives. It is such a different experience from buying something at a big box shop. It's not only a quality product but so much heart is put into making each piece. I have heard it said that each time you buy from a small shop, the owner does a happy dance. Let's get to know Rebecca.

Rebecca is from and continues to live in lovely California. She has been crafting since she was old enough to talk. She told me that "I always wanted to be a fashion designer or an artist." Rebecca mentioned her family didn't have much growing up but one of her fondest memories was designing her sister a dress out of wallpaper samples. Rebecca's remembers the dress "was not comfortable but mind you, it looked amazing." ;-)

I asked Rebecca what drew her to a particular craft or what inspired her, she shared: "An idea just popped into my head one day and I went with it. I don't overthink I just do. Unlike many people who can choose one task and say that's what I'll do, that's what it'll look like and then do that... I am the kind of girl who would sit in an art class and begin sculpting a flower but eventually have it turn into some type of crazy detailed sea monster. I like to let my imagination take over and lead me. I don't want to limit myself."

Amazingly this talented lady only started selling online about one month ago. She was drawn to sell online because there were so many other makers who inspired her and encouraged her to do so. She told me "I was painting the dolls and giving them away because I loved doing it and kept getting asked why I wasn't selling them, and so it was begun." We are certainly glad that you have begun this new adventure, Rebecca.

What hopes does she have for her business in the future? Rebecca says, "I'd love to be able to quit my day job one day and do this full time. It's always been a dream of mine to do something I loved and make money doing it. Most importantly though I hope to continue to make unique pieces that people love and slowly add more items to my shop. I have tons of wild ideas." Rebecca, we can't wait to see some of these wild ideas you have in the future.

Rebecca has a hard time picking out what her favorite piece has been; "I put so much time and detail into each doll and every doll is unique. At the moment though I'm getting to ready to launch my new line of mommy and me dolls which I'm pretty excited about. Those may be my favorite yet."

One thing she would love to share with others who are considering going into the handmade business, "Try it, you may just love it. I'm still sitting here wondering why I waited so long. It really brings me so much joy."

I am so glad that it brings you so much joy, Rebecca. I can't wait to see some of these wild ideas you have brewing and your next adventure of  "Mommy and Me" dolls you are working on.

Mommy and Me

Head over to these links to find Rebeccas' shop instagram.com/ava.and.ari.shop/ and her brand rep account for her kids instagram.com/ava_and_ari

The Direction I hope to Take Our Blog.

Hi, my friends. Hope that this finds you well. For some time, I have been thinking about what direction I would like to take our blog. Where is our niche? What would we like to do with this space?

As I have gotten more involved in the "maker world", I knew that incorporating more of the "maker world" into my blog, was the direction I was heading towards. I love supporting other small handmade shops. So I started a regular activity on Friday on Instagram that encourages other small shops to follow each other. It is called "Follow Friday". This is where we started out and then I had the idea from another maker, Emma at Double Stitch Creations, to have a contest to win a feature on my Instagram Feed. So a few weeks ago I began this endeavor. Shortly after starting these features on my feed I thought what better way to share small shops than featuring them here on this blog. Who wouldn't love to "Meet the Maker" behind the small shops? From the winners of my "Follow Friday" each week I began offering up the option to be featured on our blog.

So here we are. I have done three features so far if you would like to go back and check them out, please do. I am now creating a schedule of some new shops to feature each week. Not all of the details are worked out yet, but I am really excited for this endeavor. Those in these small shops have great interesting stories to share and I just can't wait to introduce them to you all. Maybe you will find some handmade goodies you would like to buy in the process.

If you know any small shops out there looking for new and fun ways to promote their shop, point them our way. Our Insta feed is Instagram.com/mtnittanycreations

We will continue on with our craft challenges on a seasonal basis. The next one will be the Christmas in July Craft Challenge. So stay tuned for upcoming details.

Also, this Spring our small shop Mt Nittany Creations will be at two craft shows. Pixie Dust Wishes Sunday, April 23, 2-4pm at St Joseph's Catholic Academy in Boalsburg. And, Crafty Mama's of Centre County Saturday, May 13 9 am- 1 pm at Trinity Lutheran Church, 2221 North Oak Lane, State College, PA 16803.
Come out and visit our booth, it would be great to meet you in person.