Meet the Maker: Jill Verofsky from The Paper Rabbit Company

Hi friends. How are you? How has your spring been so far? It is still snowy and blah here with a few nice days in between. We went on a great vacation to FL last month. It was so nice and sunny and great to spend time with family and see Disney and Universal. I hope to get back into the swing of doing the Meet the Maker posts because I do really enjoy them. Life has been pretty full the last few months. What is new with you? Are you a maker and would like to be interviewed? Send me an email.

Today's Meet the Maker is with a fellow Pennsylvanian and she lives really close to where I grew up. How fun is that. Today I am going to allow Jill to take over my blog and tell you a little more about herself. Enjoy and without further ado here is Jill.

So my name is Jill Verofsky and my company is The Paper Rabbit Company

I am from Philadelphia PA and continue to live in the Philadelphia area, but have recently moved out of the city and into Wyndmoor (Glenside) PA.

I have always enjoyed doing crafts ever since I was a little kid.  I enjoyed making jewelry, painting and sewing.  Specifically with my greeting cards, I began making them approximately 4 years ago at the suggestion of my mom due to me feeling like I didn't really have a hobby in which I exercised myself creatively and artistically.  I like to read, write and play tennis, but I needed something that almost counterbalanced my professional life, which can be mentally and emotionally exhausting, as well as "life or death" at some points due to me working in the field of addiction rehabilitation.

Years ago I made the decision for myself to quit drinking and get myself into a program of recovery from my addiction.  As I became settled into my new life I realized that I didn't really have anything in which I used my hands and actually created something.  When discussing this with my mom, she suggested to try making greeting cards (she had seen something about making greeting cards on a home shopping network haha) because I have always been a huge proponent of SENDING cards to everyone in my life.  I was always drawn to sending cards to friends and family bc I feel like actually sitting down, writing out a card and/or message, mailing it, and having someone physically receive and experience it is a dying art.  Actually writing out a card is so different from sending a text or an email as you physically have to sit and write, which is a completely different action, and people appreciate that you take the time to do this for them.  I liked the idea of just a little card being able to brighten someone's day :)  So my inspiration would be my mom and my love of physical correspondence.

The story behind my shop name is pretty simplistic. My favorite animal has always been the rabbit or bunny.  I have a little stuffed animal that my mom bought me when I was a toddler (who is consequently named "Bunny") who I would sleep with every night, and still do!!!  So I came up with The Paper Rabbit Company bc my crafts are paper, and also having a rabbit or bunny involved really seemed like a deep piece of myself that I wanted to be evident in my art and my company.

I began selling my cards about 1 year ago online through Etsy and also in person at craft shows and home show parties with my close friend who sold LuLaRoe.  Now I still do have my Etsy shop, but I have found that Instagram has been so much more productive as it is easier to reach a larger audience, and the interface is much more user friendly than I find Etsy to be.  I also utilize Facebook for selling, but Instagram is definitely my favorite.  I was drawn to selling my cards by the suggestions of friends and family who all were loving receiving them in the mail, or receiving a set of them as a gift.  To be honest my favorite part of selling my cards online is that I can sell them to people all over the world, and the idea that one of my little creations is being used to make someone I have never met happy is just totally awesome!!

I do not have any upcoming sales or giveaways, but I do sell my cards at $4-, but I do 2 for $7, and also will make other price adjustments based on how many a person buys, or if they are a consistent customer of mine.

For a living I work in the field of addiction recovery for a company named Malvern Institute, that specializes in inpatient and outpatient treatment for individuals seeking treatment for their drug or alcohol addiction.  I have an undergraduate degree (B.A.) in Psychology and Biology, Masters degree (M.S.) in Forensic Psychology and I have an LPC licensure in clinical psychology.  Currently I work in Pottstown PA at one of our outpatient locations as an outpatient therapist, and I also am the clinical site supervisor  My job can be so emotionally and mentally taxing that my card creating time allows me to just sit, quiet my mind and create something with my hands.  I try to set aside a few hours per week to work on my cards, which most often is Friday night and over the weekends.  If I have had a particularly taxing work day, I will come home and sneak in a little card time before bed; I like to say it "quiets my mind".  Depending on the card occasion, a single card can take me anywhere from 30 minutes to 90 minutes depending on whether or not I have a design idea in my head already.  I don't think I have ever made exactly the same card twice.  I come up with all the designs myself, starting with a single sheet of card-stock.  

Although I create my cards by myself, often I will be sitting with friends or family while I am doing them, or I ALWAYS have my trusty sidekick Rocky (my little dog).  I do also take requests from customers on what they would like with a card/cards, as well as thoughts/input/suggestions from my friends and family.

I was raised Catholic, attended Catholic grade school and also the college I attended for undergrad and my graduate degree is a Catholic school.  I spent many years going to church, was an altar server and also sang in the choir, but as I got older, I began to pull away from the Catholic church and began to "practice" my own type of worship that is not so structured or rigid as I found the Catholic Church.  I often will say, "I'm not a religious person, but I am a huge God person".  My recovery program for my alcoholism is through the AA program (alcoholics anonymous), which is deeply ingrained in spirituality and connecting with a Higher Power, that I choose to call God.  Part of my beliefs are to be a "good person", meaning to be honest, kind and loving; even when faced with adversity or acrimony, I feel that I only lose if I do not do the next right thing as God would see fit.  I pray everyday for God to use me as an instrument for his work, and to help others as best as I can on a daily basis.  I feel my crafting and my beliefs coincide in the way that I really enjoy bringing joy and happiness to others.  Being nice and kind is so easy, but it is a daily deliberate action that I choose to take each day.

For the future of my business I would just like to continue to make people happy with my crafts, and hopefully develop my own website to sell my cards.  I would also like to participate in more craft show type events and connect with other handmade artists.

I don't know if I have any 1 favorite piece, but I think I most enjoy making Christmas and Valentine's day cards.  I love coming up with new theme ideas for holidays and occasions

Proceeds of my cards do not currently go to charity, but if I were to pick a charity I would most likely choose St. Jude's Children's Hospital for the ASPCA.  I consider myself to be a champion for the innocent and I would love to help any kids suffering from cancer and I love animals.

If there is 1 piece of advice to someone wishing to start their own handmade business it would be to jump right into it bc you'll never know what you can do till you try.  Also, to sell things online you need to be vigilant in promoting yourself and building connections with customers and also other crafters.  

Thank you so much for sharing Jill. I really enjoyed reading your story and I love your cards.

You can find Jill online at the following locations:

Etsy: www.etsy.com/shop/ThePaperRabbitCo

IG username: thepaperrabbitcompany

Facebook: @thepaperrabbitcompany

Life with a chronic illness/disease: Meet another side of me the blogger and maker of Handcrafted Artisan.

Do you feel constantly sick? Are you sick more often than not? Have you been like this at one point in your life and now you are better?

I know that I do. Over seven years ago, I was at the doctor's having every imaginable test done to figure out what is wrong with me. Am I completely better, no. I won't be completely better until the Lord returns but I have learned a lot along the way. 

Philippians 1:6 

"And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ. " 

This post has been sitting unpublished for a long time. I wasn't sure what to write or how to share. Then the other day I was walking to a park with my youngest son. He is three and struggles with a sensory processing disorder which can make life hard some days. (This post once again sat here and now he is four and diagnosed with Autism, but it doesn't change what I share here. ) But this was a good day for me in how I was feeling and a good day for him. So this walk was such a joy, something I wish I could have bottled up for the tough days. It made me think of the Jim Croce Song.
"Time In A Bottle"

If I could save time in a bottle
The first thing that I'd like to do
Is to save every day till eternity passes away
Just to spend them with you

If I could make days last forever
If words could make wishes come true
I'd save every day like a treasure and then
Again, I would spend them with you

But there never seems to be enough time
To do the things you want to do, once you find them
I've looked around enough to know
That you're the one I want to go through time with

If I had a box just for wishes
And dreams that had never come true
The box would be empty, except for the memory of how
They were answered by you

But there never seems to be enough time
To do the things you want to do, once you find them
I've looked around enough to know
That you're the one I want to go through time with

Lyrics Courtesy of http://www.azlyrics.com/lyrics/jimcroce/timeinabottle.html

I wanted to save that moment in a bottle. Just like all the other special days, I have with my husband, kids, family, and friends. Why would I want to do that you may ask? So that when the days are really tough I could pull one of those bottles out and have hope for the good days. To remind me that time is fleeting and to cherish the moments the Lord gives to me.

Do you cherish the good days and the moments the Lord gives to you?  Just like Jim Croce said, "there never seems to be enough time, to do the things that you want to do..."

How can those of us with invisible and chronic illnesses go through each day?  How are we to live?  Where is there hope?

Photo courtesy of Kim Young

I would love to share with you from time to time where I get my hope. The Lord. He has truly helped me along this path. He has blessed me with a wonderful family and friends and other things in my life that has been so life-giving and helped me through the dark days.

This is one reason that I blog about my jewelry and other people's handmade products, it is a bright spot in the dark days for me. So is homeschooling. I am often asked why I homeschool, and one reason is so that I can cherish the time I do have with my children.

From time to time I would like to explore what it is like to live with a chronic illness.  I personally suffer from several chronic illnesses. I would love to hear your thoughts and inputs.  It has been on my mind to write about this for some time. I know there are others out there that probably have gone through similar things that I have...

We will look at life with a chronic illness/disease in several ways. We will also continue on with supporting other handmade shops as well as probably some posts about ways I have been impacted recently.

I can only speak to what I have experienced myself so if you have thoughts to add I would love your comments. I know there are other people out there who live with trouble with their health as I do and I know there are those who have it worse and others who are not so bad. I am not here to throw myself a pity party. I just want to share to give insight into what I have learned along my journey.

Jeremiah 29:11"For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope." 

Disclaimer: Please know that this website contains affiliate links. Meaning that should you click on certain links, and then subsequently purchase a product, I will receive a small commission. The price is exactly the same for you as it would be without the affiliate link.  Thank you for supporting me in this way.

Product Review: Small bag, key fob, change purse and cloth bird from The Plum Pumpkin.

Hi friends. How are you? How has your week been? Ours has been somewhat tough but just leaning on trusting that God is good. Trying to find school choices for two of our kids that will work well with them is lots of work. What have you been doing? Will you be doing anything for spring break? We are going to sunny Florida. Looking forward to warmer weather. If you would like an interview or a product review please email me or comment below.

I love to support other makers. And one way that I do that is reviewing their products. For today's post, we are reviewing products from The Plum Pumpkin. We formally did an interview with Kelly and Becky here. So I am excited to review some of their products.
Without further ado lets check out what Kelly and Becky have for us.

Kelly and Becky sent us several items. First was this super cute buffalo plaid bird. It is well made and super cute and I love buffalo plaid so I was super excited by this piece. I added it to my maker shelf in the kitchen.

Next was this cute little square change purse. It has similar fabrics on the inside and out but with different colors. It is a really cute teacher fabric. It will make a great gift for one of my kids teachers. This item is also really well made. Their product quality is outstanding.

Our next product is this cute little zip bag. The outside is a bright and cheery yellow fabric and on the inside is this quaint flower print fabric that makes a divider. This divider gives two sides to this bag giving it all kinds of possibilities for its use. You could carry coupons, money, receipts, you name it there are all kinds of possibilities.

Attached the bag came a really key fob. I love the checkered fabric with three different colored zippers. You could keep this on the little bag to make it a little handle to carry the bag or you could take it off and use it for your keys.

Each of The Plum Pumpkins Pieces are well made and very cute. Head over to one of their web locations and check out their products. They have great decor pieces and bags.

You can find Kelly and Becky at the following locations:

https://www.instagram.com/theplumpumpkin/

https://www.facebook.com/theplumpumpkin/

https://www.etsy.com/shop/ThePlumPumpkin

http://theplumpumpkin.com/

*I RECEIVED THE PRODUCTS MENTIONED ABOVE FOR FREE IN RETURN FOR AN UNBIASED REVIEW. I ONLY REVIEW AND RECOMMEND PRODUCTS OR SERVICES THAT I HAVE USED PERSONALLY. I AM DISCLOSING THIS IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE FEDERAL TRADE COMMISSION’S 16 CFR, PART 255: “GUIDES CONCERNING THE USE OF ENDORSEMENTS AND TESTIMONIALS IN ADVERTISING”. THE OPINIONS EXPRESSED IN THIS POST ARE ENTIRELY MY OWN*


You can find Handcrafted Artisan PR at the following locations:
https://www.facebook.com/Handcrafted-Artisan-PR-1716946345000122
https://www.instagram.com/handcraftedartisanpr/

Upcoming events:

• President's day weekend sale at our jewelry shop Mt Nittany Creations.

• Mt Nittany Creations- our shop on Vacation Feb 24- March 11

What's happening with Mt Nittany Creations??

Hi Friends. How are you? How was your weekend? Ours was good but pretty busy. We've been watching the olympics, working on homework, swim lessons, church, Jeff's birthday party with his buddies and I made my first trip out to Clearfield. I am sure this was one of many. I will be consigning some of my jewelry in a unique boutique out there called Revived and Company . We are going to be a part of their new Artisan's Market! We hope to open the beginning of March! So if you are in the area come and check it out!! Many great artists and antiques to come and see.

On top of that I was recently interviewed and had my new essential oil bracelet reviewed by TJ from Unbelievably_stitch.  Her post turned out great. Here is an excerpt:

Now let me Introduce you to Mt Nittany Creations. Her name is Amber and she is really a jack of all trades! She is a blogger and a creator! She even goes out of her way to feature other creators and bloggers!! She has an all around Awesome Etsy, but today I am going to feature her Diffuser Jewelry...

Head on over to her blog to read the rest of this article. Thank you so much TJ.  Not only will you get to read a great article but she is also having a giveaway of one of our essential oil bracelets. There are seven days left, it ends on 2/18, so make sure you enter!!

You can find Revived and Company, Mt Nittany Creations and Unbelievably Stitch online at the follow locations:

Unbelieveably Stitch's Link Tree https://linktr.ee/unbelievably_stitch

Mt Nittany Creations Link Tree https://linktr.ee/mtnittanycreations

(a link tree is a web page with the company's links)

Revived and Company's Links: http://www.revivedandcompany.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/revivedandco/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/revivedandcompany/

Meet the Maker: Tran from Shards of Tears Jewelry

Hi friends. How are you? I am sorry that it has been so long since I have posted. Life seems to have taken over. January was wrought with busyness and illness. I only now feel like we are getting back on our feet and you throw in our oldest having eye surgery, meetings about our youngest going to Kindergarten, my in-laws coming to visit to help out with all of these appointments and trying to maintain a schedule with homeschooling for the two kids that are not involved in the craziness. Balance would be my word for last month.

I did choose my OLW, One Little Word, for the year and it is JOY. Boy has that been hard to live by this past month. I hope to focus more in on that as the year continues. I am just not sure how to yet. What is your OLW? I would love to hear about it and why you chose it. Please share below in the comments and/or email me. I chose mine because I would  ove to see more JOY in my life. To really bask in all the LORD has blessed me with and to share that with others. Our oldest seems to be recovering well and we have a lot of decisions to make regarding school particularly for a little guy and what will best serve him, where will he get the best services to help him to succeed with his schooling and autism.

But enough about me. I am so excited to try and get back into writing our Meet the Maker interviews. If you would like to be interviewed, please email me to inquire. We are always looking for new talent and shops to get to know and share about. So without further ado lets meet our maker for this week. Let's meet Tran from Shards of Tears Jewelry.

Where are you from?

Boston, MA

Where do you live now?

Still in the Boston area

How long have you been crafting?

Probably about 15 years.

Are there other types of crafting that you enjoy doing?

I enjoy other forms of jewelry making beyond what I have for sale, as well as 2D art.

Cool

What drew you to jewelry making or what inspired you?

My interest for jewelry started when I first got my ears pierced as a child. I developed my own style and taste as I grew older and started to make my own items when I noticed that stores did not carry items that closely matched my aesthetic.

Wow what a fun way to get into jewelry making.

When did you start selling online?

July 2017

And What drew you to sell online?

I wanted a source of income from home.

Where do you sell online?

https://www.etsy.com/shop/ShardsOfTears

Do you do any other work? Outside job, blog...

I am also a graphic designer (still in progress)https://trandl1995.wixsite.com/tranportfolio

Do you do your creating alone or with a partner or family member?

I work on my pieces alone with some background noise.

Cool

What hopes do you have for your business in the future?

I hope to have a steady income as I work from home and at my own pace.

This is a great dream.

What is your most favorite piece that you have made?

Probably a necklace that I made based on the keyblade One-Winged Angel https://www.khwiki.com/One-Winged_Angel), pictured, not for sale. I love how it turned out and the namesake of the pendant holds a special meaning to me.

This is cool.

What is one thing you would love to share with others who are considering going into the handmade business?

Handmade items have a more special connotation to them than mass-produced items to. A handmade piece shows the creator's creativity and labor and one can consider the piece to have a part of the maker, as well. I think that is part of the appeal of buying handmade items along with supporting a small business.

I agree.

Is there anything else you would like to share with the blogosphere?

Thank you for taking the time to read this interview!

Thanks for sharing.

You can find Tran online and the following locations:

https://www.etsy.com/shop/ShardsOfTears
https://www.instagram.com/shardsoftearsjewelry/
https://www.facebook.com/ShardsOfTears/

Upcoming Events:

• #igmakersale February 9. All day Insta sale with other Instagram Small shops. Come check it out and follow the hashtag. Get some of those last minute Valentines gift for the special people in your life!

• Feb 10-11 Love for Heather Auction. Come join us as we help raise money for our friend Heather as she fights an awful disease.https://www.instagram.com/loveforheatherauction/
• Feb 7-14 free shipping on all purchase in our ETSY shop.https://www.etsy.com/shop/MtNittanyCreations

Meet The Maker: Janet P from Zipperworks

Hi Friends! How are you? How were your holidays? Ours were good but busy. We traveled to see family and then afterward my husband went on a business trip. Followed by several us getting sick. Needless to say, it has been an interesting couple of weeks. What have you been up to? Feel free to leave me a comment or send me an email.

I am back to give you another Meet the Maker. I am so excited to introduce you to Janet from Zipper Works.

Where are you from? Palo, Minnesota
Where do you live now? Kingston Springs, TN

How long have you been crafting? I have been creating Zipperart since 1979.
Are there other types of crafting that you enjoy doing? Sewing, knitting, embroidery, photography, mosaic tiling.

What drew you to zipper art or what inspired you? I was in 4-h and the challenge was to recycle a household object. Instead of the soda pop bottle bird feeder; I sew so I had broken Zippers, it occurred to me to use the Zipper teeth like paint. I painted my worn out cork bulletin board and created Pussy Willows.
I left my artwork behind and my Mother had my broken Zippers. My father came home with kitchen cabinet doors and she looked at my work and the doors and started to create pieces. I took on the role of promoting her and gathering the broken Zippers. She passed at the age of 85, creating right up to her passing. I started to create with her and when she passed, I had a lot of Zippers left and not wanting to ‘waste’ them, I went back into creating on a daily basis. We are many different artists. This is a very interesting story. What a blessing you got to work with your mom for so long.

Is there a story behind your shop name and if so what is it? My sister came up with the name of Zipperworks. The designs are worked zipper teeth.

When did you start selling online? 2004
And what drew you to sell online? Reach the world
Where do you sell online? www.zipperworks.com, Facebook, Instagram: Zipperworks. I do not have an Etsy storefront because it is difficult to photograph my work. The teeth cause pixelation and look distracting. My art is very tactile too, it is meant to be felt. I never frame it with glass covering it. This is cool.

Do you sell in other venues and if so what are they? Galleries, juried art fairs, boutiques, pop up shows, demonstrations.
What is your favorite venue for selling? Fundraiser shows for schools, you get to interact with up and coming artists, inspire others to think out of the box-promote creativity. Very fun. I like fundraiser shows as well.

Do you have any giveaways or sales coming up or other exciting things that you would like to be shared in your post? I am launching my vastly improved website.

Do you do any other work and how does that fit into your production time? I work as a cancer researcher. I travel the US, Canada and world managing clinical research trials to find new therapies to cure cancer. My work can be very bleak, especially when the drug I am working on does not work as intended. I have my art to renew me. My themes are very whimsical (or so I have been told) because of my day job. I actually bring Zippers, scissors and Tacky glue with me and I create in the evening. Thank you for the work you do both with cancer research and with your zippers.

Do you do your creating alone? I get help processing my Zippers-removal of the tape (which is the cloth that you sew the Zipper). Removal of the tape, pull and clasps can take a long time. My husband is an excellent woodworker and he makes many of my frames and cuts out wood designs for me-i like working on raised shapes. That is great that you and your husband get to work together and you get help with the zipper removal.

Do you have a faith practice and how does this fit into your work? I believe that my work is very meditating and I create faith-based themes.

What hopes do you have for your business in the future? I would like to reach a greater audience-that is how I get my Zippers-from jean quilters, former sewers, alternationists, I have a relationship with a developmental group home, they shred rags from Goodwill rejects and they save me the Zippers, in exchange, I create art for their home.

What is your most favorite piece that you have made? I don’t have a favorite piece but I treasure my mother’s work. I have kept many that I will not sell, the only way I will part with them is if they go into a permanent collection and treasured.That is a blessing you have those pieces.

Do you give to charity from the proceeds of your pieces? If so which ones and is there a story behind why? Yes, I donate to many causes, I gave pieces to help fund counseling for children who have both parents in prison; save habitats for falcons and educational outreach for them, I already mentioned about the group home, scholarship funds, and to help buy GPS locator bands for autistic and people with dementia in case they wander off, they can be found. Thanks for giving to all of these causes what a blessing.

What lead you to donate? I get Zippers donated to me, I must give back.

What is one thing you would love to share with others who are considering going into the handmade business? Make what you love and not what you think will sell. Thanks for this great reminder.

Is there anything else you would like to share with the blogosphere? or with a partner or family member? Try to repurpose if the life of something has finished, don’t throw.

Thanks for sharing Janet. I wish you all the best.

You can find Janet online and the following locations:
http://www.zipperworks.com/
https://www.facebook.com/zipperworks/
https://www.instagram.com/zipperworks/

What's Happening:

• Currently, we are in a giveaway celebrating Nikki from instagram.com/thisandthatbynikki
  celebrating 1,000 followers and her six year anniversary! Head over to Instagram and check out all of the awesome prizes.
• We are working on a new essential oil line for our ETSY shop. Come on out and check it out.

Pricing Handmade Items Guide

Facebook Giveaway!

Hi Friends! How are you? How was your Christmas and New Years? We had a nice holiday although busy with travel. It was great to see family and friends.

We have reached over 500 followers on our Facebook Page. So in celebration of this and the new year, we have teamed up with 9 other makers to bless our followers with a giveaway.  As a mom, I sometimes forget to take care of myself as I get wrapped up in taking care of my family. But it can be so important to make sure that I am in good health, and cared for in order to keep taking care of them. So this giveaway has some fun stuff along those theme lines. Runs January 8-13. #takingcareofyouinthenewyear 

You can enter at the bottom of this post.

You could win all of the following items:

Infinity Scarf from Sew Crafts A Lot. 

Macrame necklace with a rose quartz stone from Dreamy Dutchy Designs.

A pencil wrap from Crafty Lia Shop. 

Crochet flower hat. Made of sparkle yarn for 5 y.o. and crochet seed bead bracelet with lampwork glass bead. from Irene LTC and Bluette Jewelry.

Hand Painted sign from Rachel Israel Art.

Hand wrapped silver earrings with tiger eye stones from Moore Creation 33.

 Blue Mosaic Turquoise Gemstone Swarovski Crystal and Quartz Charm Antiqued Brass Necklace designed by Melinda Jernigan of MP Designs Jewelry.
Finished length is 30” with the charms measuring 1.5”.

 Gently exfoliating face scrubbies, made of 100% cotton. Easily remove makeup and cleanse skin. Washable and reusable! From The Lost Hook.

Lava Stone Necklace great for use as an essential oil diffuser in gold or silver. From our shop Mt Nittany Creations. 

You must be 18 years or older and live in the US.

The giveaway runs Jan 8-13.

A winner will be chosen on Jan 14 and announced as per Facebook rules.

This promotion is in no way sponsored, endorsed or administered by, or associated with Facebook. You understand that you are providing your information to the owner of this Facebook page and not to Facebook.

 Enter Here: a Rafflecopter giveaway