Sorry I have been MIA all weekend. It was CRAZY FUN. Will post about the craft fair later. For now, I have some exciting things to share. I participated in Structured Chaos’ Shop Swap and Blog. We were assigned a partner who blogs and crafts, and we sent each other items from our shops. I was partnered with Mandy Pfeiffer from 2sweetthings. Let me tell you, this woman is TALENTED. I can’t say enough good things about her.I felt like it was Christmas morning when I opened up her adorable package. Here are the photos, and then I will tell you a little about her! See her links below and pay her a visit!
The whole package.
Precious Baby Girl Booties.
Look at the lovely tag! Her packaging is exquisite!
Matching Burp Cloth and Boy Booties!!
A little bit about Mandy:
I am a student of Jesus, stay-at-home wife to one patient man and to two lovely little ones, Remy (3) and Halle (1). I have always loved creating things, and started blogging about these things about a year ago. I think in the last year making has helped me find a bit of myself that was lost after having kids and devoting all my time and energy to them. I’m learning (baby steps) that I have to do things for me! =) I was fortunate to grow up in a home where creativity was always encouraged. My mom sewed, sawed, painted, and my sister and I were always right in the middle of it with her. I grew up believing that there was nothing I couldn’t at least try.
What made me start my business:
2 sweet things (named for my own ‘2 sweet things’, my kiddos) sort of just started on its own. I think I always daydreamed about making and selling things, but it just stayed in my head. When I had Remy, I was really frustrated that there weren’t more cute things for babies, especially little boys. (I didn’t know about etsy!) I was pregnant with Halle when a friend gave me her old sewing machine. I went to the fabric store almost immediately and bought fabric to make some cute burp cloths, and it sort of snowballed.I started with just bibs and burp cloths in funky fabrics and started adding shoes & things I loved for my own kids. I began making dresses when I grew more frustrated with sizing.I hate that you spend lots of money on things size to only get a few months worth of wear. My goal was to incorporate extended sizing so that the items grow and change with the child.
What you plan to accomplish with your business:
I am already shocked at how 2 sweet things has grown in just the 4 months since I began listing on etsy! This winter I am going to be having a booth at two different craft fairs and I am also going to begin selling items at a local boutique. My goal once the holiday craziness is over is to really concentrate on building a seasonal collection, most likely starting Spring ’10. I would also love to grow my etsy business and find several “brick and mortar” sores that would carry my designs.
What you get most out of your business:
I think for me this is sort of the fruition of a dream. I feel really blessed, satisfied (and tired!) after a day of creating. I am so thankful for each sale and the opportunity to provide people with cute and funky things for the ‘sweet things’ in their lives.
Your Favorite online shop:
I absolutely can’t choose! Every day I look through the amazing shops on etsy and find about a zillion that I could live in! Recent discoveries that I love are Crafty Mama Designs , who makes the most darling hair clippies, and Kori Clark Designs , who makes wonderful stationary. I am trying to narrow down which Christmas card I’ll get this year from all her great ones!
Visit Mandy!
