i’m happy to introduce another crafty mama to PLC. liz over at the pepper and her pups has a love for crafty things too! check out her blog and shop!!

tell us a little bit about yourself:
I am a stay at home mama to our beautiful and lively 11 month old daughter Adrienne and furry son Tator. I always have to start my day off with an intense workout and a good ol’ cup of coffee or all else fails. I recently started my own shop Pepper & Her Pups Designs to capture my love for crafts/hair accessories & jewelry for both women and their tots. When I’m not busy crafting (which only happens during nap times and/or late at night), you’ll more then likely find us outside taking in the fresh air, roaming around a local flew market, or just spending some peaceful quality family time together.

what’s the story behind the pepper and her pups?
It’s an inside joke that came about quite a few years ago. Pepper is the nickname a friend gave to me when we were all out for dinner one night and someone tried to tell me I had a piece of pepper above my lip, when in reality it was my teeny tiny beauty mark that I’ve always had. So when I was throwing around ideas in my head one day, Pepper & Her Pups came about & the rest is history!

what inspires you?
Our daughter is a huge inspiration to me everyday, I’m constantly playing around with different styles and techniques for all of our shop items that I would absolutely love to see her wear and have fun with.


what’s your favorite part about your blog?
I love that it’s a huge creative outlet that I can keep all of my favorite diy projects together for future reference and capture all of our family moments to always look back on.

what’s the most challenging part?
Trying to find time to blog and comment on others is a tad tricky on days that are pure hectic for us. I don’t make blogging something that I feel I HAVE to do, it’s always been and always will be something fun and relaxing to take on. So whenever I have a moment to myself is when I get online and catch up with everything and if I don’t happen to have the time one or two days out of the week, then I just don’t sweat it!

any advice for others who want to start a blog?
I would have to say make sure that your passionate about what your doing and to always make sure your having fun with it! The last thing you want to do is feel like your blog is taking over or that it’s a hassle of any kind. Play around with some fund designs on Picnik to make your own header if you don’t have the expense to get a professionals help and stay true to yourself. There is such an amazing community of wonderful and inspirational ladies out there in blog land, so don’t be shy and join us:)

any special goals you have set?
I don’t really like to set any type of goals because I always end up forgetting about them in the mix of things. So it’s just better if I do everything a little spontaneously.

just for fun: what’s something that most people don’t know about you?
Most people don’t know that my name is actually spelled Lizabeth instead of the traditional Elizabeth. Even long time friends from school never put two and two together since I have always gone by Liz.

those are some cute pics of Adrienne. :) looking forward to seeing what other cute things you’ll make. thanks for being a sponsor!
happy monday!!

peace and love
xox

happy friday!!! i have another great lady to share! autumn over at cinnamon sticks (and her etsy shop) is a dear friend of mine! and i’m proud to have her as a sponsor…she’s an amazing person…see for yourself! :)

tell us a little bit about yourself:
I’m a work-at-home-mom with an amazingly funny 2 ½ year old daughter, Iris, and a ridiculously messy 8 month old baby boy, Legend. They are my world. For now. We will be welcoming a sibling group into our home in April, as my husband and I are becoming foster parents! I have one big empty room I get to decorate (EEEK!) and we can’t wait! I’m a writer and an artist, though I consider them to be the same thing. Writing is just art with words, right?


what’s the story behind cinnamon sticks/etsy shop?
Cinnamon Sticks is a blog I began to share my home life, projects, tips, recipes and crafts. I took a 1 year hiatus but I’m back now, and happy to get everyone caught up on life at the Morgan’s! My Etsy shop is a collection of a new art technique I have fallen in love with. I carve words, phrases and designs out of linoleum blocks and print them on heavy cardstock in all kinds of fun colors. Everything I do is customizable. Funny story- I told my husband I had a brilliant idea to make my own linoleum blocks with ONLY the letters of the alphabet on them. That way I could switch them out for longer phrases. He looked at me kind of confused and then I realized that wasn’t a new idea at all. That is what they call a “printing press”. hehe


what inspires you?
Earth, nature, people, quotes, other writers, life, words and most of all, my children.


what’s your favorite part about your blog/shop?
My favorite part about my blog is the feedback I get (and I always like more!!) people get excited to try my recipes or organizational tips. The best thing about my Etsy shop is putting up a new product and watching all the “hearts” appear.

what’s the most challenging part?
The challenge has always been TIME. I am much like a kid myself, so I like to play with my kids a lot. We go to the library, museum, playdates, and of course the park any chance we get. Our favorite game to play is “leaf fishing” where we catch leaves in the river with a long stick. Ok, it’s MY favorite game!

any advice for others who want to start an etsy shop?
My advice would be to let yourself grow and evolve. I began another Etsy shop last year, and I just played around with a LOT of different art mediums and techniques. I learned a lot and then discovered all kinds of new ways to make art. If I had stuck only to what I knew, I don’t think I would have gotten to the place I am now. I intend to continue growing and exploring, but keeping to the central theme of words and letters. I am just fascinated with them.

any special goals you have set?
Well my biggest goal was just accomplished, when I published my first personalized children’s book. (YAY!) I guess my next goal would be to write another. My more immediate goals are to be the best mom I can to all the children in my home, biological or not, to be inspired by each of them, to inspire them in return, and to sleep at least 8 hours a night. Ok, 7.

just for fun: what’s something that most people don’t know about you?
I am hopelessly obsessed with penguins.

thanks autumn!! :) excited for all your new adventures with family and work! you are an inspiration!! :)

peace and love
xox

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