Featured Seller: Erin from Dramatique Designs

This week's featured seller is Erin from the whimsical, colorful shop Dramatique Designs, home of upcycled fashions:

I started Dramatique Designs about 3 years ago. I am self-taught; I never went to design school. I am an artist at heart, from acting to dancing, so it felt natural to start designing and sewing. I finally felt like I had chosen the right career for myself--and it only took 32 years!

I love creating something new out of something old. So much care, love, and fabulousness goes into my work. Every piece of clothing has a story to tell, and I love telling fantastical stories through my fashion. I have been an actor in theater for over 15 years, so it seemed only natural to integrate drama into what I create. I am heavily influenced by the dreamy designs of the past, from Jane Austen’s classic and delicate style dresses to the bright mess of color in the 60s. I do not limit myself to one era; I love to create it all! It was so easy to come up with the name for my business, as I have always had a flair for the dramatic.

I joined Etsy on the encouragement of my mother. She felt it would be a good way to showcase my wares, and hopefully sell them. I also have my own personal website where I sell my items. Like my Facebook page and comment or follow my blog and comment for 10% off your order! (Email me for code: erin@dramatiquedesigns.com.)

Check out Dramatique Designs for more fun fashions and accessories, including tote bags! You can also follow the shop on Twitter. For fall and winter knit fashions, check out Erin's other shop, HipKnitism.

Renattoni Knitted Baby Booties Giveaway [CLOSED]

I am very excited to have a giveaway up for you! The lovely contributors are from the shop Renattoni:

We are three sisters from Peru who love to knit and sew high-end couture clothing and accessories for babies and children, with luxurious, best-quality organic natural fibers, organic Pima cotton, and baby Alpaca wool. 

Working with traditional textures and fabrics, we make heirloom handknit pieces for babies, and adorable toddler and girls' dresses in cotton, silks, and cotton wools. 

We also sell the yarns used to knit the beautiful pieces at our other shop, Bel Punto.

 
One of you will win a pair of girl or boy booties! See something darling you just have to get right now? Use the coupon code BABYGIVE for 20% off!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Fabletics Athletic Apparel

A few months ago, I saw a Facebook ad for Fabletics, an athletic apparel company cofounded by the actress Kate Hudson. I looked around and bought this fabulous outfit:

I absolutely love it! The shirt is airy, long, and comfortable, and I love the style. The shorts are modest and not too tight like other Spandex shorts. A sports bra was also included, but the only size they had left was too small, so I sold it on eBay for half of what I paid for the whole outfit! New members can get outfits for as low as $25 with free shipping. And signing up does not mean you have to continue buying. Fabletics will send you an email on the first of each month with personalized outfits, which you can opt out of buying. If you forget, they give you one free pass. After that, the fee is credited to your account, so it's not lost money but available for once you do decide to buy something again. They also accept returns and exchanges.

The best part is the reviews, which include a fitting rating to help you decide which size to buy. It was very useful for me since I usually don't buy clothes online for sizing reasons. Thanks to the advice others left, the size I chose fit perfectly!

If you are looking for stylish, bright, fun workout clothes, accessories, and equipment, then I highly recommend trying Fabletics! This is the next outfit I want to get:

Meant4More Apparel Review

I am a firm believer that what you wear says something about you and influences your behavior. That is why I'm happy to share with you a company that makes inspired clothing: Meant4More Apparel. Their shirts and bags are printed with positive, uplifting statements that remind you of your self-worth:

• Meant4more / I am meant for more
• Love
• Meant for something greater
• I am purpose driven
• Everyone matters

Their story:

In 2009, a group of friends of all faiths, and no faith, formed Meant4More Apparel, confident that such a message could reach beyond religion and secularism to empower those who have lost their way. Meant4More is a message that all of us are meant for something greater. Whether if it be in academics, athletics, spirituality, or our personal lives, it is a message that rings true in all facets of our lives. Meant4More is a reminder, and a promise to our customers, that every life has impact. Everyone, no matter the obstacle, can aspire for greatness and reach for their goals.

How can you not love this brand? I normally don't like to wear apparel with logos, but this is one exception because the message is so important.

I won a giveaway by them and got to choose any shirt.

I also received a cute tote bag with their logo (I am a huge fan of tote bags!) and an extra shirt just out of generosity.

Smiles
*The t-shirts are soft, comfortable, and stylishly cut.
*There are shirts for men too.
*As stated on their site, "Ten percent of [gross] profits are donated to organizations that make an impact in the lives of others" and "100 percent of the profits from the Everyone Matters line will be donated to the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention."

Frowns
* None.

Check out Meant4More for more colors and styles with words that will make you smile every day!

Featured Seller: Ashley from Ershware

This week's featured seller is Ashley from Ershware.

My background is in art and design. I have an MFA in Art and an MLA in Landscape Architecture, and a love for fashion, eco-friendly materials and processes, and dressing my son in the coolest clothes I can find or make! I basically started my shop after making hats, accessories, and screen-prints for my son and seeing the reaction of people out and about. Pretty soon, my son (and main model) began to become recognized around town in the oddest of places!

My nickname is Ersh and I have an art/landscape design business called Ershworks, so Ershware seemed to be a natural extension and fit for my Etsy shop featuring kids 'wares'. I love the creative process, and especially love the thrill of the hunt to find just the right t-shirt to upcycle. This branched out into screen-printing, other hat forms, and lately experimentation with other clothing items that I hope to start production on soon.

All the hats are double lined in super soft t-shirt material that is either upcycled from well-loved t-shirts or made in soft jersey cotton. It’s important to have soft, comfortable, stretchy material, a point my son makes every time I try to put on a different kind of hat.

Currently, other than the upcycled graphic hats, the hats are made to order, in sizes that fit infants to pre-schoolers (and beyond - my 11-year-old niece loves her bunny hat). All the items are handmade by me in my home studio, squeezed in between preschool pick-up/drop-off and nap times. I like the one-of-a-kind quality that guarantees no two will turn out exactly the same.  

Check out Ershware for more cute designs. If you see something you like, use the coupon code France15 for 15% off! You can also find Ershware on Facebook and Pinterest.

Rakun Shop $25 Gift Certificate Giveaway [CLOSED]

I have another wonderful giveaway for you: a $25 gift certificate to the lovely and whimsical Rakun Shop!

 I grew up in a very crafty household with an artist mom and an entrepreneur dad, so I started making things to sell when I was really young. My dad used to drive my sisters and me to the farmers' market at 4 a.m. so we could sell friendship bracelets and flower pens. 

I made stuff as a side gig for years before deciding to jump into making things full time. I was working in a corporate fashion job and feeling really stifled. This was before Etsy, so I had to figure out how to build an e-commerce website all on my own and beg boutiques to carry my line. It was challenging and really frustrating at times. I started daydreaming about a perfect boutique for artisans just getting started, and I realized that opening such a boutique was just what I wanted to do.

When I set out to find a spot for my brick and mortar, I knew that I needed to keep costs low to allow giving as much back to artisans as possible and avoid a lot of initial investment. So I bought a two-house property in Denver's Art District. I opened the shop in the front house, and I live in the carriage house.

My shop carries all local design, and I am the first venture into retail for a lot of the artists in my shop. I love helping people figure out their branding and pricing, tweak Etsy listings, and just lend an ear when they need to vent. In fact, I spent so much time chatting with local creatives about their business over cups of tea that I recently opened a teeny, tiny tea house in the shop! Now my tiny space is always bustling with folks collaborating and creating, and the vibe is really inspiring.

I like that I have created a real community in my shop that drags people away from their virtual worlds from time to time. It feels like a quilting bee or something, which resonates with my old-fashioned sensibilities and taste (in my own craft, I'm drawn to vintage materials and folk motifs). I love playing a small part in keeping artisan traditions and community alive.

Mandatory entry: Visit Rakun Shop and tell me what you would buy with the $25 gift certificate.

1 entry: Heart Rakun Shop on Etsy. Leave your username.

1 entry: Follow Rakun Shop on Twitter. Leave your username.

1 entry: Like Rakun Shop on Facebook. Leave your username.

1 entry: Like The Hand That Rocks the Cradle on Facebook. Leave your username.

1 entry: Follow this blog on Google Friend Connect.

1 entry each (4 total possible): Share this giveaway on Facebook, Twitter, Google+, or your blog.

Please leave a separate comment for each entry. All entries must be submitted by 11:59 p.m. MDT on Wednesday, November 20. The winner will be announced Thursday, November 21. Please leave your email address in one of your entries so I can contact you if you win. This giveaway is open worldwide. Please note that these goods are not intended for children under 3 years old. Good luck!

Haloopa Joop Baby Booties Review

Sophie from Haloopa Joop in England generously sent me a cute pair of navy baby booties to review. She knit the booties from Shetland yarn and packaged them in a lovely gift box.

 

They looked so cute on baby Gabe!

Smiles
*Adorable, warm, and well made.
*Room for growth.
*Laces to keep the booties on Baby's feet.
*Baby liked them. And so did Daddy.
*Beautifully packaged.
*Great seller!

Frowns
*Hand wash only.

Here's a little about the seller, Sophie.

I live and work in Nottingham, UK. I work full-time and run Haloopa Joop in the evenings and weekends. Haloopa Joop is an opportunity to take my knitting obsession into another arena and keep up a happy process of sharing my skill and improving it by way of constant feedback and the creative process. Haloopa Joop is an online store selling hand-knit items and knitting patterns.  

Hand-knitting takes time, lots of time. The booties here took 9 hours to make. That means a lot of care and attention has gone into the making of them. There is also a lot of opportunity to adapt each individual item. That's something that is quite important to me as I'm 6'2" (well above average for a woman) and now I can make sweaters with nice long proportions ;) I think it's a better world if the customer isn't requested to fit into something that isn't ideal for them, and if the maker can keep a very close connection with the product and a focus on skill and design rather than profitability and mass production. 

Check out Haloopa Joop for more cute baby booties, knit items, and knitting patterns!

"It's a Girl!" Multiple Prize Giveaway [CLOSED]

It's about time for another giveaway! In honor of my friend who is having her first baby, a girl, I have 3 great prizes for you:

*A cute pair of baby bloom toes and matching headband in any color and size from K.W. Bloom

*$25 store credit to Family Inspired Fashion
 

*A beautiful vintage Alexis dress in size 6 months (13-16 lbs.) from me, The Shop at Pooh Corner

Mandatory Entry: Tell me your favorite item from any or all of the shops: The Shop at Pooh Corner, K.W. Bloom, Family Inspired Fashion.

1 entry each (3 total possible): Heart each shop on Etsy: K.W. Bloom, Family Inspired Fashion, The Shop at Pooh Corner. Leave your username.

1 entry each (3 total possible): Pin an item from each shop to Pinterest: K.W. Bloom, Family Inspired Fashion, The Shop at Pooh Corner.

1 entry each (3 total possible): Like each shop on Facebook: K.W. Bloom, Family Inspired Fashion, The Shop at Pooh Corner. Leave your username.

1 entry: Follow Family Inspired Fashion on Twitter.

1 entry: Follow this blog on Google Friend Connect.

1 entry each (4 total possible): Share this giveaway on Facebook, Twitter, Google+, or your blog.

Please leave a separate comment for each entry. All entries must be submitted by 11:59 p.m. PDT on Tuesday, August 13. The winner will be announced Wednesday, August 14. Please leave your email address in one of your comments so I can contact you if you win. This giveaway is open to the U. S. only. Good luck!

Featured Seller: Liliana from My Sweetie Pie Pie

This week's featured seller is Liliana from My Sweetie Pie Pie, a delightful vintage shop.

I've had a vintage shop on Etsy for some years now but originally started selling on eBay back in its early days, so I've been selling vintage online for about a couple of decades and only took a break while living abroad.

I've got over 700 items in my shop, including vintage women's and men's clothing, purses, shoes, jewelry, and other accessories, along with housewares and collectibles of every kind.

 In addition, I have quite an extensive array of sewing patterns listed – I just love them!

Check out My Sweetie Pie Pie for more lovely vintage finds. You can also follow My Sweetie Pie Pie on Pinterest.

Auntie Robin $25 Store Credit Giveaway [CLOSED]

If I have a girl (I find out tomorrow!), I would love to get something from the shop Auntie Robin. I love little girl clothes that are cute, modest, and fun, like the outfit below. Here is the story behind Auntie Robin:

I come from a very large family and have been an aunt since I was a baby, which is why I chose the name Auntie Robin. With five daughters, my mother sewed countless dresses for us and taught each of us to sew, starting with doll clothes and moving on to sewing our own clothes. As an adult, I also began making quilts. The clothing I make now is influenced by quilting in that several coordinating fabrics may be used in one garment. This makes each piece fun and creative.

The children I know inspire the items I make. All my little skirts have pockets for a child's special treasures! They twirl really well, too! Moms like that only top-quality, 100-percent cotton fabrics are used and all of the skirts are fully lined with finished seams. They can be worn to a party or on the playground and easily machine washed and dried.

The most popular items I make are the doll clothes, especially those in hard-to-find sizes. I love making a whole wardrobe of clothes for a little girl’s favorite doll. A doll can never have too many outfits!

My hand-quilted baby quilts are made with love and countless hours of hand-stitching. The alphabet quilts can even be used as a learning game while waiting in line or for an appointment. They also make darling wall decor! 

Mandatory Entry: Visit Auntie Robin and tell me what you would get with the $25.

1 entry: Favorite Auntie Robin on Etsy. Leave your username.

1 entry: Pin something from Auntie Robin to Pinterest.

1 entry: Follow this blog on Google Friend Connect.

1 entry: Like The Hand That Rocks the Cradle on Facebook. Leave your username.

1 entry each (4 total possible): Post this giveaway on Facebook, Twitter, Google+, or your blog.

Please leave a separate comment for each entry. All entries must be submitted by 11:59 p.m. PDT on Friday, April 19. The winner will be announced Saturday, April 20. Please leave your email address in one of your entries so I can contact you if you win. This giveaway is open to the U.S. only. Good luck!

Mommy Jeans

I just realized I never posted this! About a month ago we went to the mall. I needed to find one pair of maternity pants until the weather decided to stay warm. Nothing fit anymore and I couldn't find the two pairs I had from my first pregnancy. I tried Ross first because I didn't want to spend a lot of money on something I wouldn't wear for long. I found a pair for $6 that were lightweight and dressy but too loose and long. The price was tempting, but I decided to check other stores too. We ended up at Motherhood Maternity, where I was hoping the winter items would be on  clearance. Nope. But they were having a buy-one-get-one-50-percent-off sale on denim, so I tried some on. At first no luck. Then I tried on a pair of straight-leg jeans that I loved and capris that weren't pants on me! I got them both and walked out of the store in the jeans since the pants I was previously wearing were being held shut by a safety pin. I like the jeans because they make me feel cute and stylish instead of frumpy pregnant. And the dark wash and cut allow me to dress them up or down.

Wish I took a better photo!

Every time I shop at Motherhood Maternity, I fall more and more in love! They have great customer service and quality clothing that will last. (Kohl's also carries Motherhood Maternity clothing, sometimes at lower prices and you can use your Kohl's coupons!)

On a side note, my diet is changing. I eat whole wheat pancakes for breakfast and crave protein, especially rotisserie chicken. I still eat oranges, but only one a day now. I am throwing up only once every few days yet still fighting nausea and fatigue.

-----

My diet has changed numerous times since. I have gone through phases of quesadillas, dried apricots, bagels & cream cheese, and Corn Chex. Right now I'm favoring grapes. I can eat most normal foods now, but can't cook because the smells still really bother me. I am so tired and not sleeping well. Two more weeks and I'm halfway there!

On the bright side, I felt Baby for the first time (for certain) Wednesday night. The baby was stretching. We find out the baby's gender on April 9. What do you think it will be?

Zulily.com, My New Favorite Site!

If you are looking for a great deal site for clothes, accessories, and home decor for women and children, Zulily.com is for you! Right now they have the cutest things on sale in preparation for spring and summer. I joined a while ago but didn't really get into it, but now that I'm pregnant I'm finding all sorts of wonderful things I want! I wish I knew what I was having, because then I would buy all these cuties for Baby!

I love this sweet and simple, classic-style dress!

I love Americana!

This outfit made me laugh and reminded me of Caden's brief biting-while-nursing phase. Glad that didn't last long! Maybe buying this would jinx the next one to be a biter.

I also fell in love with the citrus kitchen collection. It made me wish I had a house with a beautiful patio and backyard where I could throw a lunch party. I would get the whole set of place mats, napkins, and dish towels in this bright and cheerful design!

There is also a matching apron set! So cute!

But I also like this apron and matching oven mitts and these colorful dish towels.

And last of all, this beautiful drink dispenser!

Check out more amazing things at amazing prices at Zulily.com!