Giveaways Online at GiveawayScout

Just been over at Giveaway Scout- a resource for giveaways, freebies, sales and deals online, to enlist my blog and hopefully increase the responses of the giveaways hosted here. Submission is free so if you have a blog if you host giveaways, you can register here.

Style Love: Autumn Lookbook by RUCHE

Following the "Autumn In Session" lookbook, Ruche presents "Autumn Belle". If you thought the first lookbook was stunning, you will be surprised by how amazing the sequel is. The breathtaking scenery made it even more special.

I have a couple of favorite looks that I would love in my closet! Which one is your fave? Hop over Ruche blog and share the outfit you love to win the Sherwood Vines Knit Dress.

Photography: Stephanie Williams

Hair & Makeup:  KC Witkamp

hello, cold weather.

Fall is definitely upon us, which brings along the cold and the rain. The folks over at Whooga are doing a give-away for some nice warm Ugg boots (perfect for this time of year)- all you have to do is sign up for their newsletter or add them on Twitter.

Also, they are giving Design is Mine readers a special 10% discount for the next week: just type in "667MIME." Thanks, Whooga!

hello, cold weather.

Fall is definitely upon us, which brings along the cold and the rain. The folks over at Whooga are doing a give-away for some nice warm Ugg boots (perfect for this time of year)- all you have to do is sign up for their newsletter or add them on Twitter.

Also, they are giving Design is Mine readers a special 10% discount for the next week: just type in "667MIME." Thanks, Whooga!

Shop of the Week: Laughing Taffy + Giveaway

I am guilty of not posting last week but I intend to make up for it with a series of fabulous posts this week. And because it is Monday, I am happy to introduce you all to our Shop of the Week,  Laughing Taffy Designs, a shop where you can find an assortment of home decor items like photo frames, decorative coat hooks, trinket organizers, gift tags and coasters.

Jennifer not only answered questions for us but also offered to giveaway two items from her shop: a set of coasters and a picture frame. Thanks Jen:) To enter the giveaway, just read the interview and leave a comment. (Pls. read details for additional entries below the interview.)

What's the inspiration behind your shop's name?

As silly as it might sound, my shop’s name, Laughing Taffy Designs, came to me as I was watching my cat Taffy play. Taffy is a large, lovable cat who’s constantly happy and smiling and that’s where the “Laughing” part of the name came from.

Plus to me, laughing taffy conjures up images of fun,bright colors, whimsical scenes and people just having a good time. Hopefully that’s what my frames and home decor pieces bring into someone’s home, a sense of fun and color.

 Taffy, the cat

How old is your shop?

Laughing Taffy Designs is a little over a year and a half old. It’s growing slowly and I am learning a lot along the way and growing with it.

What inspired you to start your own home business?

What inspired me, several things inspired me. One inspiration was finding Etsy. I was amazed to see everyone’s creations on there and to see similar items to the ones I made for my friends and family, and then amazed even more that those items were selling. But it was my boyfriend that really talked me into it. He had great confidence in my craft and what I did and pretty much forced me down at the computer to open up a shop on Etsy. I am so glad he did that!

Can you give us a peek on the creative process involved in your craft?

My creative juices start flowing when I see a fabulous pattern or bright colors on fabric or paper or take a single step into a craft store. When it comes to my frames or other decoupage items, I tend to start with a patterned paper I love. Then I look for a complimentary pattern or color that’s not quite as loud to go with the primary pattern. The paper is then cut down to size, placed on the object at hand and then all the edges are sanded down to give the piece a nice worn, loved look.

As for the coasters, I look for stamps that I can add something to to make it unique. As for the papers, I look for styles/patterns, that after going through the gel transfer process, allow for the character of the tile to show through the pattern of the paper.

When I get stuck and can’t think of anything to do or start to get a little bored, I try something new. That’s how I started making the coasters and handmade flowers. The new projects tend to spark my crafty side and I am no longer bored with any type of project.

Jennifer's work station

What was the toughest challenge you faced so far?

After getting over the challenge of putting myself out there and seeing if people would actually like what I made, the toughest challenge has been finding the time and space to do what I love. I am a nanny full time for 3 great kids, which means almost 12 hours of my day, Monday through Friday, is devoted to the family that I work for.

I also live in the family’s home in what could be considered a studio apartment, so space is something that is very precious and comes at a high price for me. And it is space that I really need when working on my projects since I really like to lay everything out in front of me before putting it all together.

How did you get over it?

I have overcome these challenges though by coming up with creative solutions. I will do parts of a project when there is a little down time in the day’s schedule or I’ll get the kids involved and let them do a project for their parents or to sell at a craft show, while I am working on my project (they love that!).

I have found that there is always a way to find time, even if you don’t think there’s any left in the day. As for the space situation, I have had to think of alternate ways to store items, so they look nice and are easy to get to. The newest solution I came up with (just a few days ago) was keeping all my pads of paper in plate drying racks. Those racks have made a world of difference in storing my paper and making it super easy to see what I have.

Please Name:
the things you do when you're not busy in your shop

Well when I’m not busy with my shop, I am usually being a nanny for 3 great kids, an 8yr boy, 15yr girl and a not so little soon to be 18yr boy :) But when I’m not working in the shop or being a nanny, I can be found reading period based novels, playing with my two cats, hanging out with my boyfriend, going to movies, and really, just trying to relax.

stuff inside your bag you can't leave home without

hmmm... the stuff I can’t leave home without are my cell phone, mints, dental floss, hair tie, kleenex, and the newest item I can’t leave home without is my new camera I just got, I love that thing! :)

your favorite shops

A couple of my favorite shops on Etsy are, Hadly Hutton, Mojo Spa Style, Maries Corner, Art Cult, and I could go on and on, but I’ll stop with those four.

your top 3 favorite picks from your shop

Asking me to choose my top 3 picks from my own shop is like asking me to choose between my two cats, they are all my favorites, I put love into each one. But if I had to choose it would be the Happy Birds-Set of 4 Coasters, the Lollipop Flower Frame, and A Sweet Trinket Chest.

What tips would you want to share for aspiring home based entrepreneurs like you?

I would say choose something you love doing and just go for it. It takes time, patience and a giant leap of faith, because no one ever got anywhere by just standing still. I would also say don’t get discouraged. If you believe in and stand by your product then others will too, it just takes some time. Networking is also huge in trying to get your name and items out there, and it’s something that I am still working on.

 Jennifer, owner/designer of Laughing Taffy Designs

Any message to your customers and the people who support you?

To those that have been to my shop and stopped by my booth at craft shows, I thank you so much for your support. Meeting new people, making those connections at the shows and seeing the smiles my pieces give you makes the shows, running my Etsy shop and website so rewarding to me. And to my family, friends and especially my boyfriend, I really can’t thank you enough for all your support and really pushing me into doing something that I really love doing.

~*~*~*~

To enter the giveaway:

1. Leave a comment about the interview. 
(irrelevant comments will not be counted) (1 entry)

Additional Entries:

2. Become a follower of my blog by clicking the FOLLOW button on the sidebar. 

Leave a separate comment that you followed. (1 entry)

3.  Twit or Facebook about this giveaway. 

Leave a separate comment.

(if you Twit, please tag it as @theshopbug) (1 entry)

4 Blog about this giveaway. 

Leave a separate comment with your blog's URL.  (1 entry)

The winner will be picked via Random generator and will be announced on Monday, September 20. 

~*~*~*~

Thank you so much Jennifer for this great interview & giveaway! 

Happy Sunday: A Round Up of this Week's Posts

Sorry this Sunday post is a bit late.  Hope everyone's enjoying the weekend.  Mine has been great:) Yesterday, I picked up two packages of goodies from the post office.  The first one contains nostalgic photography prints by Yvette Inufio which I won from her blog giveaway.  The second package contains five lovely hairpins from Bonnie Kanavin's shop, hotpinkchick, which I won from Laura Trevey's blog, Bright Bold & Beautiful.  Thanks so much for these, I'll post some photos later:)

Here is a round-up for this week's:

We started off our week with an interview, featuring Nikki Ainscow, owner/designer of Maneggi. Don't forget that she is offering one of her necklaces to one commenter so if you still haven't joined, you still have some time left before we choose the winner.

Have you seen the latest issue of Lonnymag? It features Rachel Ashwell, the Shabby Chic queen, giving some tips on how to find good buys from the Portobello market in London and a look inside her London apartment.

For the beautiful art of recycling segment, here are inspiring ideas on how to recycle old jars.

Last Friday, I started a new segment called Sweet & Lovely. If you love cakes like me, you will surely fall in love with Magpie's Cake, a new cake shop owned by Maggie LaBaugh.

And speaking of recycled, here is a shop that beautifully designed pillows made from organic cotton and recycled moneybags called Chakra Pennywhistle.

Thank you to all new followers of theshopbug and thanks to everyone who continues to support. Rest assured that I'm doing my best to make this blog worthy of your visit each time.  Take care and Happy Sunday to all!

Photographer Portfolio: Yvette Inufio + Giveaway

Talented photographer Yvette Inufio is having a sweet giveaway on her blog, Morning Light In My Room.  You could win three sets of four 5x5 photo prints; or three sets of two 5x7 photo prints; or three 5x7 or 5x5 photo prints from her Etsy shop!  Click here to enter the giveaway! Now, here are some of my most favorite, favorite prints:

photography: Yvette Inufio

Single Stone Studios Vinyl Wall Decal Giveaway Winner:

Now, for the winner of out last week's Shop of the Week - Single Stone Studios Giveaway:

Congratulations, commenter #2, that's you, Jozen!

I will email you for the details. 

Miscellany: DIYs, Giveaways and a Bunch of Happiness

Here is a mix of links and photography that you may want to check out this weekend.  Keep happy:)

photography: Aran Goyoaga

DIY projects:

paper bird painting at ashley ann photography (found via: kind over matter)

wine bottle vases at design sponge

invisible book shelf at maydecemberhome

photography: Petrina Tinslay

(found via: mary ruffle)

freebies: 

desktop calendar at oh hello friend

menu planner printable at ollibird 
(found via: how about orange)

photography: daidueaustin
(found via: tinywhitedaisies 
via: abbytrysagain) 

giveaways:

Authentic Arts Bracelet giveaway at paper n stitch

poster giveaway at my sweet savannah

win $500 Lowe's giftcard at dana made it

photography: la boomeria

and the winner is...

Kristen, you are the lucky winner of the print + press giveaway! I will be emailing you shortly to get your mailing address. Congratulations!

a very special giveaway.

I am so happy to announce that Abby is offering another giveaway this month on Design is Mine from her monthly project, Print + Press! The winner of the giveaway will not only receive this month's collection, featuring one of Abby's lovely photographs and a guest screen print by Tricia Martin, but also last month's set, which includes another Abby photo and a print by Chelsea of Arugula Press- such a deal!

If you're interested in winning this giveaway, just comment on here by Wednesday at 11:59 pm. Please make sure you include your name and email address, or you won't be counted.

Also, one more thing: If you would like to go ahead and purchase this month's set, Abby's offering a discount: just type in "design" at checkout and you'll get 10% off!

print + press giveaway : the winner!

Congratulations Erin! Your name was picked randomly out of a box- you lucky girl! You will be emailed shortly.

Thanks so much to the wonderful ladies behind the project. Be sure to check out their new collaboration right here which just premiered today. So, so lovely.