EtsyKids Design Challenge for September: Harvest Time

(images via Flickr: 1. Wheat Crop Harvest; 2. Harvesting Rice; 3. Pumpkins; 4. Blue Door;)

Each month EtsyKids Team members are challenged to create a unique item within a chosen theme. "Harvest Time" is our challenge for September, picked by our last month's winner BoyGirlBoyGirlDesign. We'll be featuring autumn decor and fashion for kids, with farm, rustic and woodland motifs.

EtsyKids members will have until September 19th to submit their entries, and voting will be open to everybody from Wednesday, September 21st to Tuesday, September 27th. So, be sure to come back to the EtsyKids blog for a new post on the 21st to see all of the entries and VOTE! In the meantime, please click here to get a sneak peek at some exciting entries so far!

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Meet PetalPetal!

Today we introduce you to EtsyKids Team Member Brianne of PetalPetal

• what motivated you to start your shop?

My first official line of children's apparel was PetalPetal, a line of flower girl and occasional couture mix and match tops and skirts. I started the line soon after helping my sister-in-law shop for a modern flower girl outfit. We came home with your typical sparkly silky dress which just didn't match her natural outdoor wedding and which her flower girl, Ella, has never worn again. A week after her wedding I came up with the Biggest Flower skirt on a whim and she immediately said, "Why didn't you make that before the wedding? It would have been perfect for a flower girl!" Then the designs just kept coming! Eventually, they flowed over into my new line of vintage-inspired everyday wear for the modern child, VintageChild:Modern.

• what is the story behind your shop name?

Well, flower girls are known for tossing petals down the aisle, and I think the word "petal" is a great word, so I just used it twice. Really, I don't remember thinking through the name, it just came to me and I ran with it.

• do you have a favorite Etsy Shop (non-child related)?

So many! I love paper, so RubyRedDesignStudio and imeondesign. I stalk Coldfish because I love her vintage finds, but have yet to buy. HazelVillage has little creatures so incredibly full of personality and they are just as gorgeous in person. I want everything from Nadinoo and OhhhLuLu. I could go on and on, but I'll stop there!

• what surprised you most about having your own craft / online shop?

How connected I would become with my customers, especially the brides I work with through PetalPetal. I LOVE when I get photos back from them that they just have to share with me because they loved their flower girl outfits so much! I have been known to cry over thank you notes.

• what do you find most challenging about being an Etsy seller?

Again, how connected you become with people. Anyone who pours their heart into their work takes a risk. It is a vulnerable spot to be in. I have built great relationships with my customers, but the handmade business is never just about the tasks of designing, sewing and marketing. It is about getting to know people and working to bring their dreams to life.

• what's your personal philosophy behind your shop / products?

I love things that are playfully sophisticated. I don't like things stuffy or that have no life to them, but I do love structure. I think the designs from PetalPetal have an almost architectural feel to them, but are still perfect for twirling and running and being silly. My philosophy for VintageChild:Modern has been clear from the beginning. I love the quote from Leonardo da Vinci that "simplicity is the ultimate sophistication." And yes, I do think sophistication and childhoods can go together beautifully!

• how would someone (other then yourself) describe you?

Hmm, well I would love to be described as a playful, free spirit and I think there is definitely that side to me, but I think that during this time in my life as I work to build my two new lines, I think that my friends would say I have become a workaholic, often late and very focused. But I am working to bring more balance into my life right now and I think that I have a deep love of life and of joy and of play that shows through in my work and will hopefully show through in my everyday life again soon!

• what music do you have on while you are creating?

Well, I often like to work in quiet as sewing has its own rhythm to it, but whenever I am working on editing photos or doing other computer work, I love listening to The Rolling Stones, The Beatles, Cat Stevens, The Hollies, Roberta Flack, Peter, Paul and Mary, etc. on my record player and Fleet Foxes, Andrew Bird, The Felice Brothers, Arcade Fire, etc. etc. on my iPod.

• what do you do when you aren't working?

I feel like I am always on call with work, but I try to squeeze in some meals and coffee dates with friends and I adore the fantastic live music that can be found all over Portland. I also have a deep love for everything that has ever been produced by the BBC, good, bad or ugly.

• anything else you'd like to tell us or share?

Before beginning PetalPetal I worked for a nonprofit focused on eradicating human trafficking. It opened my eyes to how few opportunities women have around the world so while I love to design and sew, the greater focus of my business has always been to build a company that helps support other women entrepreneurs. Almost all materials from fabrics to buttons to business cards I use for PetalPetal and VintageChild:Modern are purchased from other women-owned businesses and 5% of all profits from both lines are invested in microloans for other women entrepreneurs through Kiva.

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A Portrait of the Artist As A Young Man-Meet My Artsy Baby

Molly Wagner discovered Etsy in 2008 when she was looking for unique baby items for her 5th child. He would be sharing his parents' room for a bit, so she was looking for nursery pieces that wouldn't make the bedroom look like a preschool. She wanted it to be special and artsy without compromising their adult space.

Browsing through Etsy, not really finding exactly what she wanted, she figured she would just paint her own art for his space. It was then that she realized that she should try to open her own shop and sell the type of children's art that she was already painting for baby shower gifts.

My Artsy Baby was opened in April that year. Four months later, her son Isaac was born. It seemed from the moment he had coordination to hold a crayon, he has been his mother's shadow. He loves to paint and create with mommy, more than any of her other children did. He is completely happy staying in her "Art Room" (sometimes for hours) while she works on orders. He has his own little easel set up in one corner, and just about every coloring book he owns (which is A LOT) has been watercolor painted or colored in.

Once the older kids get home from school, they require all of their mom's attention, leaving Molly no time to work. By having Isaac painting in the same room during the day, it keeps him occupied while she works. It also still gives them quality time together. He is a quick learner, so she tries to incorporate age appropriate lessons (mixing colors, painting or drawing shapes, animal colors, etc) into their time. When he isn't painting, he might be on the floor playing with playdoh, or dancing around the room using crepe paper streamers as ribbons.

It seems as though Molly's Etsy shop was appropriately named because, as Molly says, "He truly is My Artsy Baby." Who knows, maybe he'll grow up and open his own Etsy shop some day. To his Mom, his precious little paintings already are priceless .

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Meet Rosirouge!

Today’s installment marks the beginning of a new feature here on the EtsyKids Team Blog, a get to know our members opportunity -

Today we introduce you to EtsyKids Team Member Rosi of rosirouge

• what motivated you to start your shop?

Once I found out about Etsy, I thought it was perfect for my line of baby blankets and infantwear since my items are really one-of-a-kind. I use vintage fabrics and trims and sometimes it's not possible to make duplicates. Etsy is an outlet to show that ONE item.

• what is the story behind your shop name?

My shop name is rosirouge. I used to blush a lot when I was younger...so shy. My BFF coined the nickname (Sad to say it is few and far between now and my rouge comes on with a brush!) I really should have started with the name Hanky Blanky which is the name of my line, but Etsy does not let you change names, once you chose one.

• do you have a favorite Etsy Shop (non-child related)?

Yes, http://www.etsy.com/shop/sushipotparts. She's a collector as am I...I feel as if I'm at a great flea market!

• what surprised you most about having your own craft / online shop?

I am always surprised when I make a sale. I was surprised when I learned about the many teams that help further promote the Etsy community

• what do you find most challenging about being an Etsy seller?

What is most challenging is keeping up with new listings. The photography, the promotion, devoting time to keep the shop fresh.

• what's your personal philosophy behind your shop / products?

I am inspired by vintage things that I have found combing through flea mkts and antique fairs. In making my blankets and things for baby, I want to recapture the innocence of days gone by, a simpler time...using the all-natural fabrics from those eras and re-using/re-cycling sweaters for my plush and a new line of baby sweaters and sock-moccasins. It's important to me to re-cycle and re-purpose these hankies, fabrics, sweaters, buttons and trims.

• how would someone (other then yourself) describe you?

I have been described as having boundless energy, a doer/pro-active, responsible and a girl who likes to have fun.

• what music do you have on while you are creating?

Minneapolis radio: thecurrent.org (I live in NYC)

• what do you do when you aren't working?

I grow flowers and vegetables in the summer, I love to mosaic things like birdhouses, table tops or frames and vases in the winter

• anything else you'd like to tell us or share?

Besides sewing things for my Etsy Shop, I have a full-time career as a costume-maker for Broadway and Film. I needed to keep myself busy during the down times and that is when I started to quilt the hankies into blankies, and designing all the baby clothes with my collection of vintage fabrics.

For the local shoppers, everything is made here in New York. Come visit and get a hands on experience:

Sunday October 2nd at the Atlantic Antic- between Boerum Place and Smith.

October 9th @ Nyack's Famous Street Fair

Oct 15th @ Crafts in Chelsea (W. 21st St, btwn 8th-9th)

And my full website showing many more products is:

http://www.hankyblanky.com/

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A Space of Her Own: Mom N Mia Quilts

Today we stop in Grand Rapids Michigan for a tour of Mom N Mia's Quilts. Maria Klesney makes everything from quilts to bibs and her signature Art Buckets in her studio, which takes up about 1/3 of her basement/lower level. She only shares it with her stacks of fabric!

She used to take over the entire kitchen and then some for sewing. As her business (and fabric stash) started to grow, they decided to finish off the basement so she could have a space dedicated to her work. The open floor plan (only 3 walls) allows the kids their own play room on one side, while her husband has an office on the other side of her studio space. They can all converse and see what the others are doing all the time. The space is a large daylight basement, with a great casement window above her sewing desk for lots of natural light.

Even though her studio is part of a larger shared area, her family knows not to mess with "Mom's Stuff".
The kids occassionally raid her notions drawers for ribbons, buttons, etc., but they are generally hands off. Her 5-year old loves to help her pin fabric together in prep for sewing. She tries to keep it pretty organized, but still manages to misplace things . . . like the piece of fabric she special ordered for a custom project...it's in there somewhere!!

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In The News:: Westmama Designs

Magazine editors have caught on to the treasure trove that is Etsy. When BabyTalk Magazine, contacted Kimberly, owner and designer of EtsyKids Shop, Westmama, for a product sample, she never dreamed it would end up on the cover of the September 2011 issue!! Congratulations Kimberly!!


Love the shirt? See all of Westmama Design's T-Rex shirts here.

Westmama Designs Etsy Shop.
Westmama Designs Blog.
Westmama Designs on Twitter.
Westmama Designs on Facebook.

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EtsyKids Design Challenge: We have a Winner!

Congratulations to the winner of this month's challenge 31. Shoes Apple Children's Painted Girls Denim Back to School by boygirlboygirldesign!


"How perfect are these shoes for Back to School or Fall Time!! We hand painted these denim colored shoes with a delicious apple on the toes. We then added fun red with white polka dots ribbon for the shoe laces. So cute for the little apple of your eye."

BoyGirlBoyGirlDesign is an Etsy store filled with wonderful hand dyed and hand painted children's items, ranging from clothing to shoes. All are created by a very artistic mother and daughter team. You can check out more of their wearable art right here!

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