Getting to Know the Vendors PART V: Kroger Kreations, This Pretty,

Let's get to know some of these fabulous vendors!  Read through and at the end there is a way to get an additional entry into the giveaway!  (and, tune in daily for more chances to get to know our awesome vendors and get more entries!)



KROGER KREATIONS:

Jess is another one of those awesome mommy crafters that I discovered after starting my business.  And, it is another one of those situations where I got to reap the benefits of trading some goods!  I am getting an awesome Hungry Caterpillar custom banner for my little guy's birthday party and her girls got some pretty cute HOOKED gear too, if I do say so myself!  Here is her little miss cheesing it up for the camera in her owl hat!

I have also grown to discover that we have a LOT of friends of friends and we have become friends ourselves on facebook.  Jess recently welcomed a new addition to their family and their new little miss is just as sweet as her first little princess!  She is such a sweet lady and I am super bummed that I missed out on meeting her while I still lived in Nebraska (yep another awesome Lincoln, NE vendor!).  Maybe I willg et a chance to meet her in person this summer when I am back for my visit!  Meet Jess and her business!

"Kroger Kreations - Paper Products with Personality. Providing handmade paper products for all occasions! Each item is handcrafted for a unique look that you cannot find in a regular party store."

Kroger Kreations started with the inspiration of my daughters first birthday party. I wanted something different and unique from the regular birthday parties (as far as decorations went). I have been a huge scrapbooker for years, and already owned all the equipment I needed to get started. I made banners, cupcake toppers, garland, paper tissue flowers, party hats, door signs, favor tags, and so much more, all fitting the theme of her bedroom - owls. It was a huge hit, to say the least! After going all out for Hazel's big day, I decided that it was so much fun for me that I should start up a home business. It seemed fitting to be able to work from home. I didn't think that I would get so much business so fast, but it was amazing :) I started out just making birthday decorations, but now range from birthday to weddings to showers and more. I am always up for a new challenge, and love trying out new ideas. Thanks Kristen, for hosting
such an awesome giveaway!"

And check out some of these banners!

THIS PRETTY:

I found Mandy on Etsy....another one of my searches for Husker gear for my kiddos!  Trust me for some reason I can't just walk into a store in Wisconsin and buy cute Husker stuff.  What gives? :D  I had her make some adorable custom pieces for a little photo shoot we did (she made the two white shirts and the red one is from Twinspirations)

Does this give me away as having a problem shopping on Etsy???  This was my favorite picture of my daughter in a This Pretty Shirt and tube socks...all Huskered out!

Oh, my awkward Emma!  Love her uneven tube leg warmers.  The craziest part about this connection with Mandy?  I found her searching for Husker gear...and low and behold she lives in Wisconsin, like me!  It seems she has smart family that dig the Huskers ;)  Here is a little more about Mandy:

"I started creating childrens clothes for my own two crazy kiddos, and after a lot of encouragement from friends and family, opened up my Etsy shop.  It has been a wonderful creative outlet for me, and keeps me even busier than I was as a working mother of two.  My shirts are inspired by my own kids, and designed to last through every adventure they have.   Believe me, we are usually covered in mud and markers, and our shirts have usually been stained and washed a hundred times before we are done wearing them!   As a sports fan at heart, my Varsity Collection of team shirts are the most fun to create.  I end up loving each one, even my biggest rivalries!"

And some cuteness!

Now that you have learned a bunch about these fabulous vendors....let's get you a chance to get another entry into this giveaway!  FIRST Reply to this blog post with your favorite item from EACH of the above 2 shops (it doesn't have to be an item pictured above...cruise on into their facebook pages or etsy shops to really check all they have to offer out!) and then click the giveaway below to say you did the task at hand! :)

Getting to Know the Vendors PART IV: Little Dino Knits, Adam's Blankie and Meanmomma Customs

Let's get to know some of these fabulous vendors!  Read through and at the end there is a way to get an additional entry into the giveaway!  (and, tune in daily for more chances to get to know our awesome vendors and get more entries!)



LITTLE DINO KNITS:

Another Amanda!  It seems if you are named Amanda, you are super talented.  I have known Amanda for about 3 1/2 years and she is such a sweet person.  I was so excited when she took her knit creations to the internet and started growing her business.  She makes adorable creations and I am SUPER jealous that she knows how to both crochet and KNIT!  I really REALLY want to learn how to knit!  I'm not so sure I am coordinated enough to do it, but if I ever get some free time (what is that??) I am determined to teach myself!  My favorite item that she makes are the little knit skirties!  Here is more about Amanda in her own words!

"I first started knitting when I was pregnant with my first son.  Just to pass the time before he got here and I was on maternity leave from work. It started out as just a fun thing to do. Then after some prodding and pushing from family and friends I opened up my Etsy shop. I am still pretty new at this an only in my first few months of having a shop open! I love making all the cute new things out there and love a challenge! "

And some of the goods (including that cute skirty I was talking about!)

 

ADAM'S BLANKIE:

Let's just say that I have been DROOLING over all things Adam's Blankie for a year now!  I participated in her HUGE Giveaway last summer and it was such a pleasure.  I'm also going to be working with her come August for an Auction to raise money for the Drowning Prevention Coalition of Arizona.  Such a pleasure.  And, I'm pretty certain if Braxton would have been a girl last May I would have gone BROKE buying up all of those gorgeous Couture goodies.  Let's get to know Kari a little more!

"I am Mom to an amazingly sweet & caring 5 year-old son and rambunctious, fiesty 2 year-old daughter!  I started designing and creating gifts and accessories after I had my son and became thoroughly disappointed with the lack of chic and mod fabrics and styles available for children's products.  I wanted not only my newborn baby but also myself to be fashionable while toting around all the accessories that come with having a baby!!  And so, my love affair with fabrics and notions began! My son also LOVED and NEEDED his blankie for naps and bedtime, and alas, "adam's blankie" was born. 

It turns out, the name we had selected has more meaning than we ever imagined, and its "birth" does not end with Adam's love of blankies.  In 2008, we nearly lost our son in a drowning incident.  It was by God's grace and "blanket" {cover/protection} that enveloped our son that allowed him to be saved! 

"I will hide you in the crevice of the rock and COVER you with my hand." Ex. 33:22"

And, as an added SUPER bonus to all of my Awesome fans, Kari is offering 15% off to YOU (offer good for 14 days from TODAY, 4.29.12)  Just use the code HOOKED at checkout in her shop!

And some items for you to drool over!  (WARNING:  These pictures will make you want another baby!!!)  hehe

MEANMOMMA CUSTOMS:

Jamie is a super talented artist as you can see!  Her business specializes in nearly everything custom designed, from face painting, to custom tiles to custom t-shirts.  And, I must say that I am super excited to see her custom family shirts.  SO cute!  You can brag about your whole family while featuring what your kids love the most on your shirt!  I hope you enjoy learning more about Jamie and seeing what she has to offer!

"I love God & Jesus Christ. I love my husband & my children. I am blessed to have such a wonderful set of parents & siblings. My husband, Justin, is my best friend. We finish each other's sentences and know what the other is thinking! We attend church at the First Pentecostal Holiness in Apache.

I love small towns and I love the country. I love going barefoot & watching the sunset! I love to go catfishing and hiking. I like to take time to relax and enjoy being with my family and friends.

I do what I love and love what I do."

 And a few samples of her custom work...but since it is all truly custom, your imagination is your only limit!

Now that you have learned a bunch about these fabulous vendors....let's get you a chance to get another entry into this giveaway!  FIRST Reply to this blog post with your favorite item from EACH of the above 3 shops (it doesn't have to be an item pictured above...cruise on into their facebook pages or etsy shops to really check all they have to offer out!) and then click the giveaway below to say you did the task at hand! :)

Getting to Know the Vendors PART III: I Bloom, My Chloe Ann, Twinspirations and Annisseau

Let's get to know some of these fabulous vendors!  Read through and at the end there is a way to get an additional entry into the giveaway!  (and, tune in daily for more chances to get to know our awesome vendors and get more entries!)


I BLOOM:

Can I just say that I LOVE the connections that I make with my business.  I have made some great friends near and far, some I have never met but we all help each other out and I think that is just awesome!  Natalie with I Bloom contacted me around Valentines day and requested that I make this CUTE little ensemble for her little miss:

Soon after we became friends on facebook, she invited me to join a mommy's group AND I found out she has some AMAZING talent with flowers....You will see for yourself after we take a minute to meet Natalie!  Oh and did I mention that she is another VERY talented Lincoln, NE vendor!

"I Bloom. started simply enough with two friends with a shared passion for flowers and weddings. It grew slowly over 4 years and blossomed into a full on business doing wedding and event flowers for Lincoln and surrounding areas.  We can handle the biggest of weddings, rehursal dinners, baby and bridal showers, and parties of any kind.  "let us help you fill in the flowers" When you say "I do" to express your love, think " I Bloom." to express your style. I Bloom. will make your vision a reality. From funky and fresh to traditional and classic, your idea is our inspiration. We specialize in personalized service and design. For your event we will start from scratch to create a truly custom and memorable floral experience. Check out our portfolio or facebook for a taste of our past work, but keep in mind that your event will be truly yours. After all, "Everything we do is custom."'

And here are some of the absolutely stunning creations she has put together!

Stunning right?  I just wish I had known her before I got married!!!  LOVE it all!



MY CHLOE ANN:

Krista and I's littles are "about" the same age.  They were "May" babies...except for some reason her little one came in April...and mine was pushing the JUNE breaking point ;).  We recently found out that she has family in Council Bluff, IA, which is just right across the border from my home state of Nebraska!  Always a small world that is for sure!  Take a minute to get to know Krista!

"My name is Krista. I am a stay at home, work at home, mommy of 2. I love to craft and started a small business with hair accessories after much demand from family and friends. Four years later my little home business has expanded to more children's boutique items, but I still love creating new hair accessories!"

 And check out some of the cuteness she creates!

TWINSPIRATIONS:

I met Tracy this past fall through LittleME 123.  She was having one of those AWESOME Giveaways we all love so much!  Nikki shared her link and of course when I checked her out I LOVED her work!  And, of course she is extra special because she too is from the Cornhusker state...how did I not meet all of these amazing gals when I was still there???  Quickly I placed an order for a few football shirts, a QT pie shirt and the John Deere Tractor shirt...then came along Christmas time and I HAD to get some custom shirts for the kiddos...I tried to get a picture of them all together with my elf hats I made them, but to much avail, none of them turned out :(  Still bummed about that!  But, here is a little peak at my sweetie pie in her Penguin shirt (that Tracy was so kind to make custom for me!)

And, a little about Tracy in her own words:

"Being a mom of twins you hear things like, "are they twins?" and "are they identical?" and are forced rather frequently to clarify to people who is who.  Top that off with 2 children who have names that they will probably never stumble upon on any personalized memorbilia (they may later kick us for that) and my dream started.  In 2010 I took my crafting skills a step further and played and perfected a way to make custom personalized shirts for my girls.  They were a hit with my girls and a lot of my friends so I took it a step further and decided to share my love of crafting and personalized wear to my Etsy shop, inspired by my girls, Twinspirations was born.  Every item in my shop is hand stitched, it really helps designs "pop" and adds security and durability of the items but more importantly is my way of adding an extra touch of love to my pieces.  It's been a little over 2 years now, and I am loving every minute of it.  I have also been accepting custom requests, which has brought a lot of challenge and excitement to my shop, I love working with my customers to create the piece they have been envisioning and hear of the joy the pieces bring.  From tractors to rockets to penguins with bows on their head, some of my custom orders are the most fun, challenging and rewarding pieces my shop has put out.  Onesies (short sleeve and long), layettes, baby beanies, hair bows, giftsets and toddler tees, all carried in stock and all can be customized with your child's name or favorite design."

 And, the GOODS:

You might recognize that last cutie from above (VDAY ensemble) and from Nellie Smith Photography's writeup the other day!)


ANNISSEAU:

I had the pleasure of being introduced to a LOCAL friend of mine this last fall.  It has been such a JOY to watch Amanda's business blossom and she has been incredibly kind and welcoming to me.  A TRUE friend that I am incredibly blessed to have met and gotten to know.  I must say I am pretty excited about our move in a few weeks because Amanda has family in the town we will be living in and I cannot WAIT for many play dates.  She has promised me to teach me how to use my sewing machine without FEAR in my eyes.  I think we will have many crafting days ahead of us!  Besides being an AWESOME friend and person, Amanda is INCREDIBLY talented.  I'm not so sure there is anything that she doesn't know how to make craft wise...and I am so envious!  Here is a little bit about Amanda in her own words:

"Hello my name is Amanda. I am the owner of Annisseau, a mother of 3 amazing children Annabelle (6 ½), Marissa (5), and Beau (2).  The name of my shop comes from 3 letters in each of my kids names.  They are the reason I started this business about a year ago.  My wonderful husband of almost 10 years has allowed me to be a stay at home mom.  For six years, I have been searching for a career path that I could do from home, having tried it ALL, I finally discovered my career was right here all along!

I have been sewing since I was 5, beginning with doll blankets, then trying clothes for my dolls, graduating to making my own prom dress in high school, and reconstructing dresses from the clearance racks.  Then, my largest project to date 10 years ago making my wedding dress.  I had an absolute blast designing my dress and veil.  My children came and I have been doing lots of different things for them.  I also quilt, crochet, and when in the mood I will knit.

Recently, my Handbags have been a hit, each of them are one of a kind. I also really enjoy making childrens items. My latest favorite being the pinafore.  Custom sewing is my business motto, no large quantities of the same item.  I can do it all, so if you are in need of custom sewing, contact me!"

And the awesome pinafore and one of my favorite handbags she makes!

Now that you have learned a bunch about these fabulous vendors....let's get you a chance to get another entry into this giveaway!  FIRST Reply to this blog post with your favorite item from EACH of the above 4 shops (it doesn't have to be an item pictured above...cruise on into their facebook pages or etsy shops to really check all they have to offer out!) and then click the giveaway below to say you did the task at hand! :)

Getting to Know the Vendors PART II: The Busy Bee, Ashley Marie Photography and Cody's Boutique

Let's get to know some of these fabulous vendors!  Read through and at the end there is a way to get an additional entry into the giveaway!  (and, tune in daily for more chances to get to know our awesome vendors and get more entries!)


THE BUSY BEE:

So, remember when I mentioned yesterday that I have a little "swap" problem with other vendors...Well, I totally blame Ashley for this problem! ;)  Let's just say that her daughter Sara has a couple of pairs of HOOKED shoes...okay, who am I kidding...MORE than a couple:

And, this isn't even ALL of them...Just shipped a few more pairs a few weeks ago ;).  So love ya Ashley!  Sara is VERY well accessorized between her shoes and the AWESOME and amazing bows Ashley makes for her.  And, I'm pleased that Emma has sported quite a few bows of Ashley's as well!  We are especially digging our flip flops for sure!  Anyways...here is a little bit about The Busy Bee from Ashley:

"I initially started The Busy Bee in 2010...  making bows for family and friends...  with high hopes to launch a successful business in the future.  BUT, my "baby in the making" was put on hold for some time for some baby making of our own.  Now she's HERE!  Breathtakingly beautiful...  absolutely PERFECT!  And definitely well accessorized ;) 

And after having 2 precious boys, I'd say she was just the inspiration I needed to get back on board!

I can remember making my own hair bows as a little girl.  We didn't have money for more than the bare necessities, and I was always so envious of my little friends.  Cute clothes...  bows in their hair and on their shoes.  I improvised ;)

Those days were stashed away in the back of my mind, until a dear friend of mine began making cute little clips and bows for her sweet little girl.  Then the memories quickly resurfaced.  I can remember thinking to myself, "Hmmmm...  wonder if I can still do it?"  A movie theater mishap and detour to Michael's later...  well, the rest is history!

The Busy Bee returned to existence in October of 2011 after I received a text message from a co-worker.  A sigh, pang of guilt, a honest "no, I don't make them anymore...  ," a LOT of thinking, and some words of encouragement later...  I was back!

I've met some amazing fellow mommy crafters along the way...  some of whom have become very dear friends.  Not to mention, the AMAZING fans I have acquired!  I am so incredibly blessed...  and I love each and every one of you dearly!"

And, cause I know you want to see the goods she has to offer!!!

I will be posting another  picture of those awesome yellow and black flip flops on the facebook page this weekend! (cause ya...that swapping/trade problem I have landed me those pieces of AWESOMENESS!)

ASHLEY MARIE PHOTOGRAPHY:

It's such a small world sometimes!  Ashley signed up to test out my leather soled boots on her little girl in January (check out how cute she is in them!):

 Anyways....shortly after that a sweet friend of mine (also featured in my giveaway, with My Precious Angels) contacted me requesting the sweet turtle newborn photography prop (and some other goodies).  Since I was in need for some photos of the turtle we worked out a deal to get her a discount and I could get a few photos...Great!  Well, low and behold, her photographer was the Amazing Ashley Marie!  Such a crazy coincidence...we live in the same state, but about 4-5 hours away!  So, I got hooked up with some great photos and a friendship was formed between myself and Ashley...and I really love her (as I'm sure you realize since she has done some great photos for me!)  

Such as the sweet skirty

  and the turtle and others too of course!

And a little bit about Ashley in her own words:

"Photography has been both a hobby and a passion since I was in middle school.  I started out with my mother's film Canon SLR and I couldn't even tell you a model number!  I spent hours upon hours out sitting in the Blue Heron nesting grounds behind our house waiting patiently for the best shot I could get and stumbled upon an amazing baby white tailed deer for an awesome shot and each and everyone of these encounters grew my photography passion.  I took a break from it while I attended college for architectural engineering, but quickly picked it back up after graduating.  In December 2010 I formed Ashley Marie Photography...with lots of blood sweat and tears I've worked very hard over the last year to grow the business and gain friendships with awesome clients and amazing vendors like Kristen.  From newborn to wedding photos I do it all and I love each and every one of my sessions."

Check out some more awesome work by Ashley (yep, that is a HOOKED aviator hat you see as well!  She is so awesome!)

CODY'S BOUTIQUE:

I came across Cody's Boutique with a random Etsy search last fall...I was looking for the perfect Husker get up for my little guy.  And, I found the Perfect Blackshirts style husker onesie and KNEW I had to have it.  She was great working with me to special order a black long sleeved onesie and I had the perfect hat and boots to complete the look!  So, when she FINALLY joined facebook ;) and asked to participate in the giveaway I was of course super EXCITED!  Here is a little bit about Cody in her own words:

"I love sewing and making new things. My crafting has evolved over the years and continually changing. You might notice that the items in my shop change periodically as I am always making new creations and I want to share them with you. It's a rewarding feeling to have finished products in my shop and to know that someone will love them as much as I do.

A lot of my stuff i sew on by hand. Doing this takes a lot of extra time but it gives it so much charcter and it brings it to life and i wouldn't do it any other way."

 Here is the picture of my little guy in his completed look!  Isn't he adorable?  I know, I know I am super biased, but he really is!  The Husker's crossbones shirt can be purchased through Cody and you can get the hat and boots from yours truly!  Love it!!!

And, because I know you want to see a few other awesome goodies from Cody, here you go!

Now that you have learned a bunch about these fabulous vendors....let's get you a chance to get another entry into this giveaway!  Reply to this blog post with your favorite item from each of the above 3 shops (it doesn't have to be an item pictured above...cruise on into their facebook pages or etsy shops to really check all they have to offer out!) and then click the giveaway below to say you did the task at hand! :)