Meet Etsy Seller AtelierSpatz

Atelier Spatz has been selling on Etsy since October 2013 (almost a year), they sell a real assortment of beautiful items for kids. From dress up outfits (perfect for Halloween!) to everyday clothing, play mats and bibs! Today they are going to give us a little peak behind the scenes of their Etsy shop.


What motivated you to start your shop?
My grand-mothers and mother have been great crafters, so making things by hand has been a family passion. I got a child's sewing machine when I was about 10 years old and all my Christmas presents were hand made until I was 18. I knitted my way through university and making things by hand balanced out my desk job career. Eventually, I started knitting for family and friends, for my own kids, and just people who had seen my creations.
Starting an Etsy shop was a natural extension.

What is the story behind your shop name?
"Spatz" is the German word for Sparrow. In the South of Germany - where I am originally from - we use it as a term of endearment for little kids.

What is your favourite creations from your shop?
I love making children's costumes. The Bird Cape and the Native American outfit are amongst my favourites and I would love to make another bird cape in African wax print fabrics of blue and yellow hues. But I just finished a great pirate outfit and am working on an astronaut, so... the list of favourites gets ever larger.

What's your personal philosophy behind your shop / products?
Creating childhood treasures!
My work is all about making the life of kids and their parents more joyful. May this be through a baby play quilt that becomes an heirloom and gets passed through generations, a simple little changing mat that brings joy to the ever recurring task of nappy changing or a stunning costume that creates an unforgettable memory.

What do you do when you aren't working?
I enjoy being a mother!

Please tell us a little about the children's items market / handmade movement in your Country? 
In the UK, parents are increasingly keen to enjoy handmade items of good quality / organic materials. There are more and more classes to learn crafts available and people remember the joys and value of hand made items.

Watch out for Atelier Spatz anniversary discount code in October to be published on their Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/atelierspatz
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August Design Challenge Winner!

August's Design Challenge had the theme "Holiday memories!".
We had lots of lovely entries from our team member but the winning entry with the most votes was...

Baby Mermaid set from IrishHooksAndYarn

Your little mermaid will dazzle everyone in her mermaid tail, shell top and crown. Perfect for the first trip to the beach or just for newborn photos, this will be a keepsake to treasure! Take your beach anywhere with the sandy beach blanket surrounded by ocean waves and a starfish on the shore.

Here are some more lovely items from IrishHooksAndYarn.
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Meet Etsy Seller Littlelilybamboo

Littlelilybamboo has been selling on Etsy since June 2009, they sell organic bamboo baby towels and wipes! Today they are going to give us a little peak behind the scenes of their Etsy shop.


What motivated you to start your shop?
It first started when a friend of mine expressed her disappointment at the lack of quality of baby washcloths. I had been looking to start some sort of hobby, so I started looking into it. When I found bamboo fabric online, I knew I had to try it, so ordered a yard and experimented. It just grew from there!

What is the story behind your shop name?
I had been trying to think of a cute name for it, and was coming up blank. One day I was talking to our second daughter Tegan and called her by her nickname, Little Lily (lily is her middle name). As soon as I said it, I knew I had my business name!

What surprised you most about having your own craft / online shop?
I was surprised at just how much work one could put into it! I knew it would be lots of work, but between editing photos, perfecting SEO, and writing the perfect descriptions...I'm still miles away from where I want my shop to be! I really do love working on it though...almost as much as I love sewing the products!

What is your favourite creations from your shop?
I've always loved making my towels. I love the creative freedom I have with them, and picking fabrics is always fun!
I just started making cuddle blankets though, and I have to say, I'm falling in love with them quickly!

What do you find most challenging about being an Etsy seller?
I'm usually pretty competitive with just myself, but I find that on etsy I find it hard not play the comparing game. There are so many great shops out there and sometimes I find that instead of being inspired by them I start to feel discouraged that I'll "never have a shop that nice/successful" (although I know I can build a shop and business that fits me perfectly).

What's your personal philosophy behind your shop / products?
I have a passion for babies in general. I know how nervous I was as a new mom, especially when it came to bathing and calming my baby. I wanted to create a business that provides products to help moms with those things. I'm in the process of adding tutorial to my blog for bathing a newborn, swaddling, etc. My current motto is "we make bath time cozy!"

What do you do when you aren't working?
My husband and I have five daughters, and I'm a stay at home mom. We live out in the country, and when we are not doing chores at home, the girls and I love to get together with friends who live near us. We seem to keep ourselves pretty busy!

Littlelilybamboo is offering a 15% discount in her shop. To use the coupon visit her etsy store and enter code "ETSYKIDS15" at checkout. Valid until September 3rd 2014.
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Natural DIY Weed Killer- Round-Up

This Natural Round Up recipe has been all over the internet so I had to try it.  Not only is Round Up expensive but it also has plenty of chemicals in it that I would rather not spray on our lawn that our children and pets play on.  The recipe is easy and uses common household ingredients. Even though I had heard it worked really well I had to see it for myself and I was surprised at how quickly it worked.  

Natural Round Up will kill everything (including grass) so do not spray it on areas with desirable plants or grass.

Recipe and directions:
1 gallon white vinegar
2 cups epson salt ( other recipes called for plain salt so I think you can use either)
1/4 dish soap
empty sprayer
just mix and spray, let it sit a couple of hours( preferably in the sun)
By the end of the day the weeds should be dead-gone!


The left picture is of a weed before I sprayed it and the right picture is a day after I sprayed it!

Dorinda's shop, Raising Green Kids, offers eco-friendly products for your family. Follow her on Facebook and twitter and at her blog.

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Treasury Challenge #41 - First day outfits

The theme for the EtsyKids Team treasury challenge #41 was "First day outfits".
Our team members created lots of beautiful treasuries featuring some amazing items, but the winner with 184 views is...

Send Them Back To School In Style

NOSTALGIC Back 2 School ROMPER and Bows SET for Girls ButterflyHearts13 $48.84	Girls Peasant Dress ABC Back To School Fall Blue Brown Boutique Clothing By Lucky Lizzy's LuckyLizzys $40.00	The Morgan Dress- With Flutter Sleeves in Rainbow Chevron and Polka Dots...Custom, Boutique, sizes 12, 18 months, 2T, 3T, 4, 5, 6, 7 JustSewStinkinCute $42.00	Math Flat Front Skirt - Sizes 2 3 4 5 6 7 - Back to School Skirt MySweetSunshine $34.00
A "Dork" Able Personalized Shirt, Custom Embroidered and Monogrammed, Perfect Back to School Shirt KSMonkeysBoutique $22.00	Girls Size 10 Back to School Peasant Dress One of a Kind Vintage 60s Style msliesenfelder $30.00	PENCIL Scarf -- Handknit Scarf, Unisex Scarf, Back-to-School, Teacher Gift, Chunky Yarn, Whimsical, One-of-a-kind Scarf, Unique Scarf LittleKnitsStudio $27.00	Fall Fun Peasant Dress - Back to School ChewChewsCloset $45.00
First Day Of School Shirt - First Day of School Dress, Back To School Shirt, Back To School, 1st Day of School, Back To School Outfit jcoolcreations $27.00	Girls Dress, Peasant Dress: Apple of My Eye, Back to School , Choose your Size and Sleeve LadyBeez $26.00	Back to School Pinwheel Bow - Back to School Hair Bow Avabowtiquee $2.50	Back to a School girls dress 4t chachalouise $20.00
Back to school Backpack ChildishThoughts $15.00	Crayon Box Jon Jon or Jumper Personalized personalitychildrens $40.00	LiliBug Back To School Red Apple Hair Clip LiliBugBoutique $6.50	toddler plaid salmon colored dress 3T EtsyKids Team Back to School sugartogs $37.00

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Thank you Audreyroseboutique for creating such a lovely treasury!

Audreyroseboutique sells lovely girls dresses and outfits. We love their back to school Hello Kitty skirt . Visit her shop to see more of her wonderful creations.

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August Design Challenge. It's time to Vote!

For August our Design Challenge theme was "Holiday memories!"
We have lots of lovely entries from our team members, browse down and vote for your favourite item!
Voting is open until 27th August.

An InLinkz Link-up

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Meet Etsy Seller Cutencurlybowtique

CuteNCurlyBowtique has been selling on Etsy since December 2011, they sell beautiful hair accessories in lots of lovely colours! Today they are going to give us a little peak behind the scenes of their Etsy shop.


What motivated you to start your shop?
My daughter! I was always looking for unique, one of a kind hair accessories for her.

What is the story behind your shop name?
My daughter again! Her cute curly hair is the inspiration behind the name. :)

What surprised you most about having your own craft / online shop?
What surprised me the most is the community on Etsy. Which is a wonderful surprise! And I never thought I would be spending so much time editing pictures of hair bows! LOL

What is your favourite creations from your shop?
It's very hard to pick just one, I love creating everything in my shop. But these little mini witch hat fascinators were so fun and time consuming but so worth it!

What do you do when you aren't working?
When I'm not working on hair accessories for my etsy shop, I generally spend quality time with my family. I also work full time and when I get the chance I like to read.

CuteNCurlyBowtique is offering a 10% discount in her shop. To use the coupon visit her etsy store and enter code "ETSYKIDSTEAM" at checkout. Valid until August 31st 2014.


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