Favourite Etsy Shop Friday

Favourite Etsy Shop Feature

Jessie Girl
www.jessiegirlclothing.etsy.com

1. Tell us a bit about yourself.
I am a teacher and a Mom who loves fabric and sewing. I learned to sew while working in a NYC costume shop in my early twenties. After I had my daughter I picked it up again.

2. What made you open your shop and why Etsy?
I was making skirts for my daughter and I was getting carried away. A girl only needs so many twirl skirts - I heard about Etsy from my neighbor and it was love at first sight!

3. Do you sell your items anywhere else?
Yes - I sell at art fairs and some home shows. I am very excited because this year I will be presenting at two major shows in NYC: Crafts of Columbus and the Craft Festival at Lincoln Center.

4. How did you choose your shop name?
My daughter Jessie was named after my grandmother who was also named Jessie. My grandmother was a wonderful seamstress who made all of my mother's clothes. We have always called my daughter Jessiegirl - so it just seemed to fit!

5. What are your favourite things to do?
I love sewing and spending time with my kids. I also teach history so I love to visit museums and read.



6. What inspires you?
The quilting fabrics are amazing - I love the endless combinations. Children also inspire me - I love to see little girls in clothes they adore - I try to create clothes that are whimsical and practical.

7. What is your most popular item?
The most popular piece is my Lantern Bloom Fabric. I think that the fabric created by Laura Gunn is like a piece of art. The colors have so much depth and sophistication.

8. Your clothing has such beautiful fabrics, which fabric is your favourite?
They are all my favorites - but I am partial to Jennifer Paganelli's fabrics for FreeSpirit. Her choice of color is genius and I have been fortunate enough to meet her in person and she is inspiring!

9. What handmade possession given to you do you cherish?
I have a vase that my husband and I bought from an artist in Hawaii on our honeymoon.

10. Name 3 other Etsy shops you love to visit.
kiki bOnan - she is my neighbor and does adorable applique shirts.
Pomadour's Craft Cafe- she has great pattern books from Japan - they are great for ideas and styling
Little Overcoat - great recycled dresses and tops - she is so creative!



Thank you so much to JessieGirl for being my favourite Etsy shop feature this week. This is the first kids clothing shop I have featured. I am just in love with all the fabrics that are used in the shop. My Megan would have loved these clothes when she was little and even though my Victoria is a bit of a tomboy she loves to wear twirly skirts so she would love these as well. If my sister is reading this then I am sure she will find something in this shop for my niece. JessieGirl has sizes listed from 18 months right up to size 8. So check out this shop and see all the wonderful fabrics and styles. Im sure you'll find something for the little girls in your lives.

JessieGirl would like to offer you a 15% discount in her shop. If you would love to take advantage of this discount all you have to do is put jonicania.blogspot in the message to sellers section when you checkout. I hope you take advantage of this wonderful offer.

A New Generation In Knitting

This past Christmas Victoria got a circle loom knitting kit with some soft purple wool to go with it. There was some confusion when she opened it because they thought for sure it must have been for me. Reading the gift tag twice we realized that this had to be for her. Victoria has asked me several times about learning how to knit and I kept telling her one day I would teach her. I would cringe a little at the thought of teaching her because for one she is left handed and I am right handed and thought that might be kind of tricky and two she is not a child with lots of patience. She loves for things to come easily to her and if she has lots of trouble she gets very frustrated and goes off in a huff proclaiming that she will never do it again. Yes she is very dramatic because I know that in a while she will be back to try again. These are visions I had at the thought of teaching her to knit and just thought maybe when she was a little older with a little more patience we could try. She is only 6 so we had some time.

Then the loom knitting circle arrived. She didnt seem to mind that it wasnt needles like Mummy, she was just excited to try. Well this girl was like a duck to water. We sat down and I showed her what to do and she just did it like she she'd been doing it forever. The funny thing is the only trouble she is having is making the loop after wrapping it around so the yarn doesnt come undone. Slowly but surely she is getting better at that.

So once she started she just loved it. She would ask me get a project and sit and knit with her and my husband would chuckle at the two of us knitting together proclaiming we looked so cute together. Over and over again whilst knitting Victoria would say "Oh Mummy I just love knitting. Its so much fun. Do you know what I love about it the most Mummy? I just love the feel of the yarn on your fingers. It so soft." Right then and there I knew she was hooked. When you can drool over the feel of the yarn and want to just keep going and going then you've caught the bug.

So Victoria's first ever knitting project she decided to make a bag for her good friend Maggie. The only thing that I did to help her was bind off the bottom, make the handles and do the lining. She decided on when the size of the bag was right. She told me how to do the handles and she picked the material for the lining. She was so excited and proud of herself when she was finished.



Maggie apparently loves her bag and her Mum was impressed that Victoria made it all by herself. She now has a new project in mind, another bag for another friend. This one apparently has to be blue with a butterfly on it. I think she also wants to make a blanket for herself with squares.


I am excited that Victoria loves to knit. She loves Star Wars and video games just like her Dad so it was my turn to pass something of mine on. She does also like to take photos and work in the garden so I guess I have those too. I tried to teach Megan how to knit years ago and she really didnt enjoy it. She didnt get that sparkle in her eye like Victoria got. She does like to bake and take photos like me so I guess I won her over on those things.

Its so nice to have these traditions get passed on.

What Kids Say About Love

Valentines Day was a week ago but there's no reason not to keep the love going. This article was so cute I just had to share it.
I found this in a local parent magazine. They ask kids what they thought about love. Here is what they said

"When my grandmother got arthritis, she couldn't bend over and paint her toenails anymore. So my grandfather does it for her all the time even when his hands got arthritis too. That's love. "
Rebecca - age 8

"Love is when a girl puts on perfume and a boy puts on shaving cologne and they go out and smell each other."
Karl - age 5

"Love is when you go out to eat and give somebody most of your french fries without making them give you any of theirs."
Chrissy - age 6

"Love is when my mommy makes coffee for my daddy and she takes a sip before giving it to him, to make sure the taste is OK."
Danny - age 7

"Love is what makes you smile when you're tired."
Terri - age 4

"Love is when you tell a guy you like his shirt, then he wears it everyday."
Noelle - age 7

"Love is like a little old woman and a little old man who are still friends even after they know each other so well."
Tommy - age 6

"During my piano recital, I was on a stage and I was scared. I looked at all the people watching me and saw my daddy waving and smiling. He was the only one doing that. I wasn't scared anymore."
Cindy - age 8

"My mommy loves me more than anybody. You don't see anyone else kissing me to sleep at night."
Clare - age 6

"Love is when Mommy gives Daddy the best piece of chicken."
Elaine - age 5

"Love is when Mommy sees Daddy smelly and sweaty and still says he is handsomer than Robert Redford."
Chris - age 7

"I know my older sister loves me because she gives me all her old clothes and has to go out and buy new ones."
Lauren - age 4

"You really shouldn't say "I love you" unless you mean it. But if you mean it, you should say it a lot. People forget."
Jessica - age 8


I hope this article made you smile.

Favourite Etsy Shop Friday

Favourite Etsy Shop Feature

LunarraStar Jewellery
www.LunarraStar.etsy.com

1. Tell us a bit about yourself?
I'm from Scotland but have been moving around alot the past few years, we are currently in The Netherlands and going to settle in Bristol, England in 6 weeks. Moving my work and our family around from country to country has been a challenge. My animals and my fiance are my family, we have 2 cats (Maia and Chloe) and a 6 month old, tiny, chihuahua (Bellatrix). I love taking photos of places I have been and things we do, you can see them on my flickr - arietistar

2. What made you open your shop and why Etsy?
I had my main website www.LunarraStar.com but I loved the community of like minded people on Etsy, the creativity is always surprising. I can spend hours browsing Etsy and finding unusual items.



3. Do you sell your jewellery anywhere else?
I also sell on www.LunarraStar.com.

4. How did you choose your shop name?
I've always loved the moon and stars, it come's from the many times I have wished upon the stars.




5. What are your favourite things to do?
I love reading historical period novels, playing with our little chihuahua puppy and going on adventures to new places :)

6. What inspires you?
Children's stories, childhood, dreams and stars.

7. Which is your favourite piece of jewellery you make?
I love the "I believe in faeries" winged locket, i love the idea of giving it to someone with a little handwritten message inside the locket. To me it represents holding onto something of my childhood, innocent beliefs and a simpler time where I really did believe faeries lived at the bottom of my garden.

8. Which piece of jewellery is your most popular?
I think the Alice in Wonderland "We're all mad here" charm necklace.




9. Which handmade possession given to you do you most cherish?
I love the handmade Alice in Wonderland T shirt I was given.

10. Name 3 other Etsy shops you love to visit.
I love to visit
Audrey and Grace
Lazy Giraffe Jewellery
Marmalady's Cakes & Preserves


I would like to thank LunarraStar Jewellery for being my featured favourite Etsy shop for this week. She is generously offering a 15% discount off your order at www.LunarraStar.com Just put in the code 15j10 at the checkout to receive your discount.

I am a huge Alice In Wonderland fan. I have read the book and seen most film adaptations of the story. I cant wait for the new Tim Burton version. My love of Alice In Wonderland is what first caught my eye with LunarraStar Jewellery. I especially love the bracelets. Looking beyond the Alice In Wonderland items you will find other charming jewellery that Im sure either you will love or would be perfect for someone you know.

Love In Every Stitch

I wanted to share some knitted things that my mum has made for Victoria lately. This will also give my Mum a chance to see how they look on Victoria as we are in America and she is in Australia. The jumper or sweater Victoria just loves. It was so funny when she got this and I told her that Grandma knitted it just for her we joked about a Spongebob episode where his Grandma knits him a sweater with love in every stitch. I told Victoria that she now has a jumper with love in every stitch. So she puts it on and says oh I can feel the love in every stitch and its so cozy and soft. She does the same thing every time she wears it. Now she can get a big hug from Grandma just by putting this on.


This Christmas Victoria also received this very soft fluffy crocheted hat from Grandma. When I told Victoria that Grandma had made it she told me she can now feel the love all over her head hehe. She wears this hat every day and just loves it.



I had to put the last photo in because this just shows my crazy Victoria. The hat photos were taken on Christmas morning and she was sitting in a sea of presents.

So if any of you knit something for somebody, dont forget to tell them that there is love in every stitch.

Favourite Etsy Shop Friday

Favourite Etsy Shop Feature

My Other Princess
www.myotherprincess.etsy.com

1. Tell us a bit about yourself.
I'm a mom to 2, the newest being almost 3 months old. A wife, a crafter and just all around creative person. I scrapbook, bake, soap, and I'm just learning to sew!

2. What made you open your shop and why Etsy?
I was buying a lot of handmade soaps. I thought I should start making them to save money. Plus I'd be able to adapt them for my needs. One thing led to another and the cupcakes started piling up and taking over so I decided to sell them. I already had another shop on Etsy, so it just seemed the place to list them!



3. Do you sell your products anywhere else?
I do have some cupcakes in a shop in NYC.

4. How did you choose your shop name?
Well I wanted to keep with the princess theme. My scrapbook shop (my first shop) is called PaperPrincess. So this is MyOtherPrincess



5. What are your favourite things to do?
I used to love to scrapbook. But I havent had time for it, in quite a long time. I love making cupcakes and decorating them. I love browsing and shopping on Etsy. My youngest has quite an Etsy wardrobe! I also spend way too much time on Facebook.

6. What inspires you?
Oh gosh. Colors, scents, pretty things, sparkly things. It doesnt take much to get my wheels turning!



7. What is your favourite bath product you make?
My bath bomb cupcakes. I love designing them!

8. Which product is the most popular?
The cupcakes and the most popular scent is probably the frosting, followed by cucumber melon, and sweet pea.



9. Which handmade possession given to you do you most cherish?
Given? Or bought? My brother is a woodworker. I cherish all of the pieces he has made for me over the years (some gifted, some bought) My favorite is a cabinet to display my country decorations in. My newest is a jewelry box that my husband just bought me (from him) for our anniversary.

10. Name 3 other Etsy shops you love to visit.
I can only pick 3 lol. I love Etsy way tooooo much. I love pouncing. I've found many of my favorite shops there.
Auntie Di's De-Lites - love love love her candles. She also has a tart shop.
Enchanted Memories - she created my label designs. She's an amazing digital designer. She worked so hard with me to get my designs perfect.
Take A Bow Bowtique - if you have a little girl, you need a bow from this shop!


Thank you so much to My Other Princess for being my favourite Etsy shop feature this week. In our house we are big fans of cupcakes and of bath bombs so to find something that is a combination of the two is just wonderful. Dont they look good enough to eat? Actually Megan saw these cupcake bath bombs and wanted to eat them. I had to convince her that she couldnt. What would go perfectly with your bath all fizzing with cupcakes is some handmade soap. If you've never tried handmade soap you definitely have to do it at least one time. I guarantee you'll want more. So if you feel like spoiling yourself or someone else you just have to go over and check out more of the products in this shop.

Victoria's Knitted Gang

I just thought I would share all the knitted toys that I have made for Victoria, so far. I say so far because every time I make one for my shop she seems to want it or want one made for her.


In this photo you can see Pippo who still needs his overalls, the Christmas lamb and my favourite piggy. Megan has a pig as well. Megan's pig was made for the shop. He is a lighter colour pink. Megan really wanted him so she got him for her birthday, his name is now Wilbur. She must love him because he travelled to Tennessee with her. Then Victoria wanted a pig as well so then I made this one for her. Notice how I never got a chance to make one for the shop. I have been thinking lately I need to make another pig. I still have more yarn left from these two. They were made with yarn from an unravelled cardigan.


Two of these three have been around for quite a while. The alligator was the Christmas present of course. The monkey was made a few years ago. He is one of my favourite monkeys I have made. I think he has character and I love his colours. He has swung many many times from his tail. He also likes to do acrobats according to Victoria. The bunny pyjama bag gets used all the time. Victoria loves how his belly get big and fat when he has pjs in it. I did have one of these in my shop but my niece now has it. My sister tells me she uses hers as well. I think I will have to make another one soon. I recently got a pattern for a robot pyjama bag that I have been wanting to make. So many projects so little time.

So now you have met the knitted gang that lives in Victoria's room.