Etsy Shop Feature: Bundle of Joy Shop

I love baby items so I was so excited to find 

Bundle of Joy Shop!

 Tell me a little bit about yourself 

I want to thank Amanda for giving me and other Etsy shop owners this wonderful opportunity by featuring us in her blog!

My name is Cheryl and I am the owner of Bundle Of Joy Shop. My husband and I live in north central Wisconsin, where it has even snowed in May! With our wonderful children making lives of their own, my husband and I decided to start crossing things off our bucket lists. I have many hobbies that I enjoy. A few of them are crocheting, paper crafts, needlework, gardening and baking. When my Mom taught me how to crochet, I was instantly hooked. I have crocheted items for wedding presents, baby showers and various charities. It would be wonderful to have my shop as my full time job. That goal has been added to my bucket list.

How did you get into making baby item? How long have you been doing it?

With my children on their own, I found I had the time to turn my love for crocheting into a business. I decided to focus on items for babies/children. Bundle Of Joy Shop has been open since January 2012. 

How long does it take to make a hat? Blanket, etc. ?

 I have many projects going at once, so depending on my situation I may crochet for awhile and then do something else. My custom orders are always my top priority. That is why I don't have an exact length of time it takes for me to complete my items. 

Do the hats, booties, blankets shrink when washed? 

Shrinkage of an item depends on what it is made from and how it is washed and dried. Items made from acrylic should be hand washed and air dried or washed on a gentle cycle in cold water and dried on air fluff. They should never be over dried. Items made from cotton may have some shrinkage. They should be hand washed and air dry. Care should be taken with the cleaning of every item.

What is your best selling item?

Hats are my best selling item.

Do you have any advice for someone wanting to start their own business?

Do it! You will never know if you will succeed unless you try!

 Never give up on your dreams! I have always wanted to sell my handmade items and having a shop on Etsy has given me that opportunity. Owning Bundle Of Joy Shop is hard work that is a great deal of fun!

Check out Bundle of Joy Shop on Wanelo

 wanelo.com/bundleofjoyshop. 

I want to thank Cheryl for taking time out of her busy schedule to answer a few of our questions. Please stop by her shop and take a look!

Shop Feature: PrasadDesigns

If you are looking for that one of a kind piece of jewelry check out 

PrasadDesigns.

1. Tell me a little bit about yourself 

My name is Anusha and I live in MA. I am currently a college student balancing school and my Etsy shop. I have one Etsy shop called PrasadDesigns, a jewelry shop. 

2. How did you get into making jewelry? How long have you been doing it?



I have always been interested in crafting, particularly in making jewelry. I started when I was young and decided to turn this hobby of mine into a business. I decided starting with Etsy would be a great way for me to learn how to run a business. 

3. What do you like to make the most? 



I enjoy making all types of jewelry but I really do enjoy making sea glass pendants. 

4. Will you be adding earrings to your shop?


I have had earrings in the past and sold those! I am currently working on creating some more earring designs. 

5. What is your best selling item?




That depends! I think most people enjoy my necklaces. But a lot of people have bought my bracelets as well. I sell offline and online. 

6. Do you have any advice for someone wanting to start their own business?

It takes times to build a business. You have to make sure your product stands out and try to find a niche for it. You also have to be passionate about what you sell. 

7. Anything else you want to add?

It’s been a slow start but I really enjoy what I do and would love for people to take a look at my shop! I am happy to answer any questions! 



You can check out PrasadDesigns through the following areas:

Etsy

Facebook

Twitter

Pinterest

Wanelo

I want to thank Anusha for taking time out and answering our questions. 

Etsy Shop Feature: Skin Craft Organics

If you are looking for some awesome organic skin and body products then you have to try these. Let me introduce you to: 

Skin Craft Organics

1. Tell me a little bit about yourself.

My name is Lisa Braun - I’m happily married with one wonderful grown son (25). I had been a graphic designer for many years as well as a dabbler in other arts of various mediums - I’ve always been a person with a passion to create. 

I live in NJ - the Jersey Shore, that is - and I am a lover of animals (especially dogs) and nature. I have a long enduring interest in health & nutrition.

SkinCraft Organics has become my more-than-full time job .. and I wouldn’t have it any other way! I love what I do!

2. How did you get into making organic skin products? How long have you been doing it?

With a life long history of having sensitive skin, I was drawn to one of the big skin care / cosmetic companies that marketed itself as being clean, pure, simple - healthy for your skin. The few basic products I had purchased over the years worked okay for me, but I came to see that the company’s wholesome image was only an illusion.

I have long maintained a regimen of taking good care of myself by eating a healthy diet & exercising, I realized the contradiction of putting over 68 ingredients - mostly synthetic on my skin.

After studying & researching the ingredients in the many mass marketed products, I concluded that companies do incorporate a variety of healthful, beneficial ingredients. Unfortunately they include only minute quantities of the beneficial components. These products are packed with a multitude of unhealthy, synthetic substances - and even some unhealthy natural ingredients as fillers, stabilizers & preservatives. The main objective of these companies is to manufacture products that are inexpensive to produce and have a long shelf life.

I launched SkinCraft Organics a little over a year ago offering all natural, healthy alternative skin care products - with formulations based on sound science and a focus on natural simplicity.

3. We all know that some of the ingredients in deodorant are not the best for our body but most people are a little skeptical when using an organic deodorant. So do the organic deodorants really work as well as the store bought ones?

Yes, natural deodorants can be very effective at combating a person’s body odor. While there are no ingredients in a natural deodorant that stop perspiration such as those found ]in a store-bought antiperspirant, the ingredients in my deodorants posses anti-fungal and antibacterial properties as well as essential oils that neutralize odors. 

I also make body / deodorant powders. Personally, I like them even better than solid deodorants. I feel they are just as effective and better at absorbing moisture than any deodorant, store-bought or natural.

4. Can you use your insect repellent on children?

My Go Away Bugs natural insect repellent is a very effective formula made of soy bean oil and essential oils. It can be used on children 12 and over. When considering use on younger children, women who are pregnant or nursing, and people who have allergies, asthma, or any other serious pre-existing health conditions, it is best to consult a physician.

5. What is your best selling product?

That depends on the day or week! There are times it seems like I’m constantly making deodorant. Other times it’s facial oils or creams - I never know - which keeps it fun!

6. Do you have any advice for someone wanting to start their own business?

Lots and lots of research and careful planning are vital before starting any new business (is there a market for it... what will the start up cost be, etc.) and of course, having sheer interest, drive & passion are what can make the difference between loving what you do and it being just a job.

Lisa also carries items for men! Make sure to stop by and check out all her great items!

Thank you to Lisa for taking time out to answer our questions and letting us get to know her and Skin Craft Organics!

Shop of the Month: BeerSuds.Net

Each Month I will be highlighting a shop that I have found on Etsy. This month I found this really cute soap shop where all her soaps are made out of BEER!! Let me introduce you to BeerSuds!

Tell me a little bit about yourself

My name is Stacey and I live in Central NY. I am married and have 2 boys whom I homeschool. I have 2 Etsy Shops and they are a part-time job, although it can become full-time during the Holidays and Wedding Season.

 How did you get into making soap? How long have you been doing it?

I have always been interested in art and crafting. I started with melt and pour soaps, and then transitioned into making soaps from scratch about 3 years ago. I started using beer as the liquid base because I had used beer to cook with and knew it was a great ingredient to use. The beer adds moisturizing properties to the soap, and it's fun to use! 

 How did the name of the company come about and why beer?

Beersuds just seemed like a fun name, and it made sense to me, it tells people exactly what the product is! My husband is a commercial Brewmaster so I have always used beer to cook with, and I decided to give it a try in the soaps. I use real beer, many are the Saranac products, but I have used others as well. There is 12 oz. of beer in each batch (which is about 15 soaps)

 What is your best selling soap?

Lavender & Lager, Tea Tree & Peppermint and Peach Magic are all very popular!

 I see you have Peach Magic soap (my husband LOVES Magic) does that really smell like that?

Peach Magic is made with Magic Hats #9, the soap has a very peachy smell to it, I love this one!

 Does the Cherry Blossom and Ale have a strong beer smell to it? 

No, none of the soaps smell like beer. The beer just adds moisture, and the hops in the beer have a relaxing effect.

Do you have any advice for someone wanting to start their own business?

Choose something you love to do. Take advantage of Social Media. Stick with it, it can take awhile to find your target market.

Stacey also has favors for weddings, baby showers and bridal showers! They are so cute!

I want to thank Stacey for taking time out to answer my questions and please feel free to visit her Etsy shop here. I know I will be back to try some of these soaps!