another lovely sponsor to share on this lovely thursday. lynne over at sewing cafe has had tons of experience with making things! learn more about her and then go visit her blog for more! 


tell us a little about yourself:
I was born and raised in California, the youngest of 3 girls.  My mother taught me to sew at a very young age, first by hand and then on a treadle machine.  After high school I attended FIDM in Los Angeles earning a degree in Fashion Design but my love for the theatre combined with my sewing skills led me to opening a business in Hollywood constructing costumes for theatre and film.  Currently I work as a dressmaker, costume replicator and  sewing instructor.  My husband is a sculptor and we both work from our home based studios in Northern Wi.  I have a beautiful daughter now off on her own, who is a constant source of joy and inspiration to me.

what’s the story behind sewing cafe?
Well…Sewing Cafe started as a means to record and share my students progress, but they have encouraged me to post about what I am sewing as well as the creative differences my husband and I have during the course of the day, so it has expanded quite a bit over the last few months.

what’s your favorite part of your blog?
I really enjoy teaching and sharing what I learn along the way, and the blog is helping me to do that and I also value creating a record of my work.  I tend to always be thinking of what is next on the list, this helps me to slow down and look at what I have already accomplished.


what’s the most challenging part?
Slowing down my sewing process enough to photograph and write about it. The picture taking is problematic for me as cameras and I have never been on very friendly terms, and I prefer to communicate orally, so the writing is another skill I am trying to get comfortable with.

any advice for others who want to start a blog?
Start.  You can and will learn along the way and remember to be patient with yourself. You will most likely learn some valuable things about yourself, while allowing yourself to meet some wonderful and interesting people.  I guess this is the same advice I give to my sewing students.

any special goals…
To personalize the look of the blog, I would really like it to reflect my personality at this stage.
To grow my base of followers and learn how to engage people in the process to a fuller degree.
To develop my own line of patterns
To create iconic vintage garments from each decade.

just for fun: what’s something that most people don’t know about you?
I am a “Selfish Seamstress”  When I am not sewing for clients, I just want to sew for myself.  I do really admire people who sew for their families and friends, but I just tend to whine about it.  I appreciate this is not a particularly nice thing to realize about oneself, but its my reality and I of course do sew for my friends and family but not as graciously as I would like.

About the pictures:  1) recent picture taken by my husband in my studio,  2) taken many years ago for a costume party when my daughter was still my baby, 3) a picture of the wonder woman costume in progress, 4) joker, a 13″ action figure I was hired by DC Comics to create the pattern and clothing for this prototype, 5) an unlined corduroy jacket I made for my daughter now 21, 6) a formal riding suit I made for a equestrian client, 7) a wool dress with a silk wrap I made  for myself, 8) my husband and I in a set of original Batman and Robin costumes from the 66 batman TV show.  You can learn more about that picture and subsequent project at my new website www.williamsstudio2.com

thanks for sharing lynne!! such an interesting career with lots of fun stuff you have done! keep up the amazing work! and thanks for being a sponsor!! :)

peace and love
xox

today i want to feature another great sponsor…ashley over at i like your {{moxie}} kid! read about her here!! then of course go visit her cute blog!

tell us a little bit about yourself:
Hi Everyone! I‘m Ashley, a 25-yr-old wife, and mama. By day, I’m a Family Activities writer for a local online site. By any other free time I get, I’m passionate about blogging over at “i like your {{moxie}} kid” and connecting with others. I love a good treasure hunt at the thrift store. I live on green tea, music, and vintage finds. Somehow, the craziest things always happen to me and I love to share those stories to give my readers a good belly laugh.

what’s the story behind i like your {{moxie}} kid?
I have ALWAYS loved to talk. During high school and college, I took lots of courses in creative writing/journalism/public relations. Once, I had my son, I realized that an office job didn’t seem enticing to me. I still loved to write, and even more, I loved to create. Blogging has been the best of both worlds for me.

what inspires you?
Inspiration is EVERYWHERE: music, movies, TV, blogs, magazines. I always am taking notes, saving pictures and clippings of everything I enjoy. The best thing, for me, is to mash up all my inspirations into something new.

what’s your favorite part about your blog?
Blogging has opened up so many doors for me. I have been in contact with very talented people. I have been endlessly inspired, as well as encouraged. I am able to share myself with the world and I have not regretted one step.

what’s the most challenging part?
The most challenging part of blogging is that I always want to bring something creative and fresh to the table. That can be really hard, and sometimes, I feel a little defeated. Especially, when there are so many talented people out there. It can feel like a little bit of a competition. I have to remind myself, I’m doing this because I love it.

any advice for others who want to start a blog?
I have so much advice to share, and I still feel like I’m a “baby” to blogging. Jay-Z said, “Always be true to yourself. That’s the foundation for greatness.” How can you argue with that?

Also, don’t be afraid to reach out to others. Blogging, I feel, is more about the community and environment, in which, we can all express ourselves and feel the love and togetherness.

any special goals you have set?
Goals are awesome. I’m always making lists of hopes and dreams. I’m currently on phase 1.5 (out of how many phases, I don’t know.. Ha) of setting up my online shop. For years, I have been shopping thrift stores and corner shops. I’ve repurposed and refurbished a wide range of items. Every item I find, I feel attached to, but my husband is “ready for me to share my ‘gift’ with the world.” = 0) My semi-concrete-not-yet-hardened goal is to open my business in summer 2011!!

just for fun: what’s something that most people don’t know about you?
OK.. I’ll let you in on my little secret. I’ve ALWAYS wanted to be a Victoria Secret model. I have always been in awe at how warm, confident, and sassy their models are. I’m pretty sure I wouldn’t survive a career as a model, but a stylized VS shoot would be super fabulous. And of course, I wouldn’t want to be worrying about my weight and looks all the time. Please, I have crafting to do!

XO to Kristen!! Thanks so much for letting me stop by!!

anytime ashley!! glad to have you. your just for fun bit made me laugh. gotta have our crafting priorities straight. :)
happy wednesday everyone!!

peace and love
xox

here we are with another great sponsor spotlight (plus a special something at the end)!! melissa over at nourish baby organics! check out her wonderful shop and she has a cute blog as well, the nourished nest. :)

what’s the story behind nourish, baby organics?
Nourish Baby Organics began in my kitchen with a bottle of oil that I made with infused organic herbs.  My son had eczema and nothing helped it so I decided to make my own skin care for him.  I studied herbs and have been an Aesthetician for the last decade so I had a good understanding of ingredients and what I did and didn’t want in products for his skin.  I decided to make the oil available for sale and quickly gained a local following.  The line has since grown and I’ve added organic washes and balms in an assortment of lavender, coconut, sweet orange and eucalyptus scents.
what inspires you?
Children who suffer from skin disorders.  My heart truly goes out to them. As a mom of a little boy with very sensitive skin I know what it’s like and how helpless it can make you feel. When a parent contacts me and tells me how their child’s skin has improved since using my products that makes my day and drives me to work harder.

what’s your favorite part about your shop?
How challenging it is.  There is never a dull moment and always a new problem to be solved.

what’s the most challenging part?
Time management.  I have a two year old and a newborn so finding time to squeeze in product production and managing the business side of my shop is difficult.  My business hours are usually during naps and nighttime.  I make a real effort to be fully tuned into my children when they are awake.  I don’t want them to ever think that they aren’t my first love and priority.

any advice for others who want to start a shop?
Don’t rush launching your shop.  It’s easy to get excited  and ahead of yourself but make sure you have a very good understanding of what it is going to take to not only open your business but to keep it running too.  Take your time to consult with experts and have a thorough business plan.   My business has been a huge learning experience and I’ve made some costly mistakes but I’ve had a lot fun along the way.

any special goals you have set?
I have plans to expand the line and offer more products specifically for pregnant women.  I’m in the beginning stages of formulating and perfecting them before they are available.  This is the fun part of my job that I love!

just for fun: what’s something that most people don’t know about you?
I have plans to write a book on natural skin solutions.  There are several ideas swirling around in my head but I have yet to put a proposal together because of the time management issue.  It will feel good to get all those thoughts down on paper one day though.

thank you so much for melissa for sharing!! and because she is way cool….she is offering 20% discount to all PLC readers!! **type in peacelovecrafts20 for the code and get your 20% off great organic skin care for mama and babies! (offer will last a week from today so get it while you can!)

peace and love
xox

i am happy to introduce my next sponsor spotlight…jessica over at happy together!!! full of color and life, she has super cute crafts and a super cute (growing) family. she’s also one of the reasons why i started blogging! (thankful that she emailed me back with all my curious questions answered) :) get to know her and check out her blog!

what’s the story behind happy together?
Well, when my daughter was born it inspired me to teach myself sewing and crocheting so I could make things for her. My husband ended up having to go away quite a bit during the first two years of her life, so I also wanted a hobby or something. Then I found out about craft blogs. I was hooked. I decided that maybe it would be fun to start one up myself. Then with no idea what I was doing, a not so great camera, and a few ideas I started Happy Together.

what inspires you?
So much does! My daughter is my biggest inspiration. She even asks for things now and I have to come up with a way how so I can deliver. I am also very inspired by many online clothing stores, other blogs, magazines, etc. I try to keep my eye open all the time for inspiration.


what’s your favorite part about your blog?
My favorite thing is how I feel part of a bigger community that is all over the world. Sometimes being a military family is hard and when you first move you might not know anyone. But, with the blog, I feel like I always have people there with me and it allows me to meet people in the new areas we go to.

what’s the most challenging part?
Sometimes there is a pressure I put on myself to keep up with other bloggers and all. I really watch this carefully because it’s not fair to do to oneself. It’s suppose to be fun, not some chore, so when I feel that way I have to just work at sitting back for a bit until it is fun again.

any advice for others who want to start a blog?
Just go for it! I have just learned along the way. People are usually very kind with sharing information about blogging as well. So if you see someone’s blog and like how it’s put together, just email them and ask them about their html code. There are many great sites to choose from to have a blog on, or to even have your own private webpage, and they usually are very simple to set up. Just choose what it is you want to blog about and stick with it.


any special goals you have set?
Not at this moment. I have really taken a backseat right now when it comes to blogging with a new baby on the way. I know that I am just not capable to keep up like I was there for a while, and that’s okay.

just for fun: what’s something that most people don’t know about you?
Oh boy. Probably lots of things! lol. I guess most people who knew me in high school and college would not have any clue that I now am a “crafter”. I was more of a “jock” in high school and all. Another fun fact is that my husband was my first real boyfriend :), my college sweetheart.

great story! thanks for sharing jessica. looking forward to more cute crafts and watching that belly grow!

peace and love
xox