Wednesday, March 25, 2009

Mid-Week Feature #7

Today's mid-week feature comes to you from Brentwood, NH. Give it up for Rachel Grande - Designer and Creator over at Think Outside The Box! She's a real cool mom (and if she were mine, I would make HER cupcakes to make her day!) Know what makes her awesome in addition to her fabulous work? She tries to reuse as much packaging as she can, to be ecologically responsible. Way to go, Rachel!

She has perfect feedback, has made 65 sales, and looks to be off to a great start here on Etsy! Her one year Etsyversary passed in February, so go give her some love and snatch up some of these lovely creations!


What is your craft?
Definitely not a question easily answered. I am quite eclectic in my crafting and the mediums I choose. I could never brand myself as just one particular type of artist. I indulge in needle felting...or obsess is more like it! I adore felt..any kind of felt..dabble in polymer clay..love to sew..learning about embroidery,,and my ADD is now allowing me to paper craft too..But there is much more to it and me...

How long have you been crafting?
I think I knit myself a baby beanie while I was in the womb..Hey..it gets cold out there!
Kinda gives a whole new meaning to the Vagina Monologues..doesn't it?

Other than crafting, what else do you do?
What don't I do is the question at hand!...And I think it is all relative to who you ask! If you were to ask my 16 year old son..he would tell you that ALL I do is bitch..at him in particular..maybe nag a bit too. If you were to ask my 21 year old daughter..she would probably tell you that all I do is put up with everyone else's shit..If you were to ask my darling hubby..well first he'd give you a list of things I don't do...anymore..and then probably tell you that I don't do enough!

But, if you were to ask me..well I'd tell you what I do...I drive my ungrateful kid wherever he wants to go..I do put up with way more garbage than any person should..I do make dinner regularly like Edith Bunker..I do spend an abnormal amount of time with my dog..I do tons of laundry..I do pick up after everyone in my house..I do look the other way a LOT..I do consider myself to be a very understanding, loving, caring, sweet and kindhearted mother, wife, confidant, friend and person..and I DO complain about all of the above but I DO love them with all of my heart..well..most days!

What is your favorite part of what you create?
Well my greatest creations are my two brats...and my favorite part of them is when they are either sleeping..or better yet..sleeping at someone else's house!

In all honesty..regarding my craft..this is going to sound so ridiculously cliche and such bullshit..but I do adore getting such positive and personal feedback from the people who buy my items..It is such a rush every time I hear from my customers..and it would seem that people always want to share their most intimate stories about my pieces..so I am very fortunate about that.

If you could change anything about your craft, would you?
The only thing I'd change..is how it is marketed and exposed..especially on Etsy..I always feel that if I could just get more exposure..like the Front Page..then I'd be more successful...

What is one thing most people wouldn't know about you?
Most people wouldn't know that I think my Jack Russell Terrier, Gracie is the incarnation of a beautiful Indian guide I call Carmella...and that on occasion Gracie actually responds to me when I call her that name!

Describe yourself in 5 words.
Crafty, loving, funny, talented, hyper-sensitive

What inspires you?
Birds...the outdoors..money..my mortgage...feeding my kids..paying for college..car payments..electricity..dog food...doctor bills..I think you get where I am going with this!

Any words of advice for your fellow crafters or those who may be starting up?
The most important thing..if starting to craft and make money while attempting to do it from home..is to get up and take a shower every morning..and invest in at least 5 pairs of comfortable and cute pajama bottoms. Second and equally as important..is to carve out a crafting area for yourself and be as organized as you can...even if you are in the living room...in front of the TV..have your supplies at hand and put together...

Where else can we find you?
Flickr
Blog
Facebook
Twitter
ThisNext




Rachel would like to offer a giveaway for you all, so here's the deal!
Win your choice of her Bunny Ears Brooch (which will arrive just in time for Easter!) or a felted birdie ornament. YOU CHOOSE! (she'll even customize your colors and features!)


Here's what to do:

Visit Rachel's shop at ThinkOutsideTheBox, and comment with what your favorite item is and which of the two items you'd like to win (We all know that people like options!) :)
Please make sure you've left a way for me to contact you in case you win!

For extra entries: (Post one extra comment for each task completed)
1) Tweet about this giveaway, and leave a link to your tweet. (You can follow me @rocksmyworld if you'd like!)
2) Blog about this giveaway and leave a link to your post
3) Suscribe to my blog
4) Subscribe to my newsletter
(3 and 4 are different - There are seperate forms for each of these in the sidebar.. take a look!)

That's 5 possible entries for each of you! Good luck, and make sure to enter by Tuesday, March 31st at 11:59pm EST. That's when this contest is CLOSED, and a winner will be picked!


In addition Rachel is offering a discount of 25% off your entire order (before shipping) by using the code "VRMW25" in Notes to Seller at checkout. So go run quick and get to shopping before that expires! This discount is valid until the deadline for blog entries, so shop before next Tuesday night to cash in on this awesome deal.


Until tomorrow (and with love!),

44 comments:

Thinkoutsidethebox2008 said...

Fabulous!! Love how you put this together my friend..and I'd love for you to be my daughter and bake me cupcakes! I could sure use one right about now!!

Just wanted to add a special bonus to the giveaway..I will give the winner BOTH of the items.so you won't have to pick between them..each will be customized to your specifications..whatever colors you adore..so you get BOTH..the bunny ears AND the birdie!!!

Digital Misfit said...

Thinkoutsidethebox has such a wonderful shop! I love the birdies, and this marabou feather nest ornament is so beautiful http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=22610009

Thank you so much, Rachel, for offering such adorable goodies in this giveaway.

hugs,
Heidi
heidig@gmail.com

Digital Misfit said...

I subscribe!

heidig@gmail.com

HeartfeltHandmade said...

I loved reading this feature on Rachel, she is very special and soooo talented and when I first started on etsy she gave me so much invaluable advice and fills me with inspiration every day! I love all of her work but the bunny ears do it for me at the moment, gotta have those bunny ears!:oD

Mich(Pixe's Treasure Chest) said...

Very entertaining feature! Love the work here!

Melanie @ Whimsical Creations said...

Love the Mickey Loves Minnie felt heart ornament. I would choose the bird.

=) melanie
http://melaniescrafts.blogspot.com
melanieadey at hotmail dot com

Anonymous said...

I love A pair of red felt plush love bird ornaments. Super cute, and the could be holiday decor or regular!

Helena said...

Psychedelic neon color blue/green/yellow felt Rose flower hair clip has to be my fave item in this shop.

i Twittered about this blog @hi_here

JJ said...

My favorite thing is the Hot pink felt Penelope bird on heart ornament...so cute!!! I would want to win that and the Pink and brown perched lovebirds baby mobile with needle felting.

Tumbleweed Trails said...

Hot pink malibou feather nest pin with polymer eggs and the: Your choice pink/brown or blue/brown felt plush Spring bird ornament . I'd go with the pink and brown.

JD

visionquest2020 at msn dot com

janil said...

I love Needle felted mermaid teal and aqua roving fiber art doll in her shop and I'd choose so colourful bird!

thanks!

cal_rubies at yahoo dot es

janil said...

suscribe your blog!

janil said...

suscribe your newsletter!

Lilly said...

The Mickey Loves Minnie felt heart ornament is my favorite and I'd like to win the felted birdie ornament. What a great giveaway! Thanks a lot!!

Aik said...

I love the Framed Needle felted Cala Lilies and Lilacs fiber art tapestry. I'd like to win the felted birdie ornament. Thank you!

aikychien@yahoo.com

Aik said...

I subscribed to your newsletter.

Aik said...

I subscribed via Google reader.

aikychien@yahoo.com

Aik said...

Tweeted here:

http://twitter.com/aikychien/status/1393864754

aikychien@yahoo.com

Kimberly said...

My favorite item is the "Hot pink felt Penelope bird on heart ornament M2M PBK decor"; hot fuchsia pink is my favorite color.

I would like to the win the felted birdie ornament in that blue or maybe in pink.

Thanks for hosting this giveaway!

kimberly.yates at gmail dot com

Renee said...

Beautiful stuff. My favorite is the Vintage Mother of Pearl buttons flower brooch pin (pearl is my birthstone) and I would pick the felted bird ornament.

judybrittle said...

I really love the 7 vanilla chocolate and strawberry embossed cupcake gift tags. Those are so pretty! Thank you!

judybrittle said...

I'm subscribed to your blog.

judybrittle said...

I'm subscribed by email.

Shanda said...

My favorite is the Psychedelic neon color blue/green/yellow felt Rose flower hair clip!
I would choose the birdie ornament if I won.
shan_da(at)hotmail(dot)com

Lisa said...

VERY hard to pic just one fav from your shop!! I pick the "Love Bunny Couple" as my fav. BUT I also LOVE your Birds and the feathery nest is so cool! AND those Bunnies and the Flowers!!! Love them all!

AJ said...

You're items are really cute. My top two favorites are :

Pink and brown perched lovebirds baby mobile with needle felting

Preppy plaid fabric plush Easter bunny love partners

( :

Jill said...

I really like the blue/brown felt plush Spring bird ornament :)

If I was to Win, I would choose the felted birdie ornament!

I'm into Birds, can you tell? LOL.

Thanks for a Very Cute Giveaway :)

Rosanne said...

Love the shades of pink and pastel bird ornament. I'd love to win either iten but I am also into birds right now!

Vintagesquirrel said...

Wow!...Just saw that Rachel said we could win both...great since I'd have difficulty choosing between them. I also love her Easter Bonnet felt hair clips she sells on Etsy.

Thanks for the chance to win!

The Need 2 Read said...

I love everything!! I REALLY like the Hot Pink maribou feather nest pin with polymer clay bird eggs - and I'm really not a pin or brooch person, but I would so wear all of these designs!! I also really like the preppy plaid bunnies - LOVE them!

Great shop!!

If I'm so lucky to win, I would choose the bunny ears - I'm a library media specialist at an elementary school and I need to jazz it up a bit for the kiddies! :)

www.savinginstyle.blogspot.com

jamieandandre at bellsouth dot net

The Need 2 Read said...

Tweeted! :)

http://twitter.com/SavinginStyle

jamieandandre at bellsouth dot net

The Need 2 Read said...

Just signed up to receive your email updates! Woohoo!

jamieandandre at bellsouth dot net

*Evelyn* said...

I love everything but my favorite is Shades of pink and pastel felt heart and bird ornament... really pretty...

*Evelyn* said...

I twitter about the giveaway and follow you...

http://twitter.com/SumikoShop

*Evelyn* said...

i'm a subscriber...

*Evelyn* said...

I follow your blog !!

Vanessa @ See Vanessa Craft said...

I loooove the birdie ornament!! I'm also loving the pink/brown plush Spring bird ornament

playswithclay said...

I love these tags: 7 vanilla chocolate and strawberry embossed cupcake gift tags! I would choose the bird :)
www.playswithclay.etsy.com
playswithclay3@yahoo.com

dctm said...

The Easter Bunny rabbit ears top hat paper mache box basket is my favorite

I would like to win the felted birdie ornament

dctm at bellsouth dot net

Angel said...

Shades of pink and pastel felt heart and bird ornament

and the soft pink and blue flower headband

Chelsey said...

I like the Set of 5 paper pieced hot pink cupcake gift tags -- so cute. I would pick the bird ornament. Thanks for the giveaway. mybabyappleseed(at)yahoo(dot)ca

urban craft said...

wonderful giveaway. My favorite is the Psychedelic neon color blue/green/yellow felt Rose flower hair clip and if I win I would like that and the Chocolate cupcake with vanilla swirls polymer clay earrings. Awesomeness.
Thank you!

lollywood said...

My favorite item is the Psychedelic neon color blue/green/yellow felt Rose flower hair clip. I love hair clips and I love the little splash of tye dye in the flower.

The item I would love to win would have to be the bunny ears brooch.. it's soo cute!

lollywoodjewelry at gmail dot com

lollywood said...

Tweeted this giveaway!
http://twitter.com/shoplollywood/status/1428783490

Thanks so much!

The item I would love to win would have to be the bunny ears brooch.. it's soo cute!

lollywoodjewelry at gmail dot com