FEATURING: MiMi's Babies (Fellow Etsy D-Lister)

To honor the newly inaugurated Etsy D-List Team, I thought it would be fun to have a weekly showcase of one team member. This week, let’s learn a little bit about MiMi’s Babies!

1. What is the name of your business and how did the name come about?
The name of our business is MiMi’s Babies. My mother in law is known as MiMi to all of her grandchildren. We began discussing opening an Etsy shop to showcase our talents and have a creative outlet for our baby gift ideas. Since MiMi has always made such beautiful gifts for all her babies, we decided MiMi’s Babies was appropriate.

2. Tell us a little about your business - what is it that you make and sell and where are you based?
We are a family team. Our goal is to provide our customers with unique gifts and apparel. MiMi sews and monograms baby to toddler holiday and birthday shirts, tote bags, diaper and wipe cases, and buggy buddies. I knit and crochet dishcloths, double sided flannel blankets with a crochet edge, hats, and boo boo bunnies.

3. What inspired you to start your business?
Over the years, we have given many special baby gifts. Friends and family have even asked us to make for them to give as gifts. We heard about Etsy and decided to give it a try.

4. How long does it usually take for you to complete a piece?
It depends on what we are making. A set of dishcloths or a hat takes a couple of hours. A buggy buddy takes about three hours to make.

5. What is the most challenging piece you’ve ever made?
MMi is currently working on a Civil War blouse for a customer who participates in Civil War reenactments. The styles have changed a lot from then to now!

6. What is your favorite thing to do when you are not crafting/working?
There is not much time left after crafting and working, but we love to spend time together as a family. I enjoy learning more about blogging and the technical side of running an online shop.

7. Who are some of your favorite crafters/artists/designers on Etsy?
I love your jewelry! Some of my other favorites include kangarooknits, pinkbubbleboutique, and HandKnitbyCara. I currently have a custom order for a stocking cap from HandknitbyCara’s shop.

8. What are your favorite blogs and what online site do you visit a lot?
My favorite blogs include the Etsy D List Blog and the Happy Housewife blog (http://www.happyhousewifelivinglife.com/). I am interested in finding more blogs to read as well.

9. How do you balance your day job [if you have one] and your crafting enterprise?
Balancing is key when running an online shop and working full time. MiMi and I both try to use our spare time to the fullest. I find that if I stay organized I am more productive.

10. What is the last book that you read and enjoyed?
With three young boys and a full time student teacher position, the last book I read was to my kids titled The Crayon Box that Talked. I did really enjoy it and they did too. I think that it is soon to become their favorite story.

11. What is the last film you watched and enjoyed?
The last film that I watched was on Family Friday Movie Night. We watched The Veggie Tales: The Wizard of Has. It was a hilarious movie!

12. Where can we find your products for sale or see you products online?
Our products are currently online in our Etsy shop at www.mimisbabies.etsy.com

13. What are you wearing right now to answer these interview questions (It is completely ok to say pajamas :) )?
Right now, I am still wearing my church clothes. After church today, we went to a birthday party at Chuck E. Cheese and I haven’t had time to change yet!

14. Who should we interview next on Julie Ellyn Designs blog?
Because I love her scarves with pockets, I would have to go with KangarooKnits.

Thank you to MiMi's Babies for answering all of my questions. Please take a moment and visit their terrific shop! My current favorite is the Frankenstein Onsie.

And the Giveaway Winner is...

Jeanette of BoutiqueStitches!!!!! Thank you to everyone who entered. I will have another giveaway next month as well...just because I love to give things away :).

(Note: Winner was selected using Random.org true random number generator)

Did you have your heart set on this necklace? I am offering 20% the design if you purchase it over the weekend! Just add HEARTBROKEN in the message to seller and I will provide the discount.

Treasuries

Thank you to IngaStitch and mimisbabies for including me in their Treasuries. Make sure you check out their shops and look at their gorgeous selections!

IngaStitch Treasury: Click here

mimisbabies Treasury: Click here


(Frankenstein Onsie by mimisbabies)

My first Treasury on Etsy!

I did it!!!! I finally caught the Treasury the second it opened! Yes, I sat in front of my computer for at least 10 minutes ready to pounce (sad, but true). I hope you like it!

Here is Stop and Smell the Flowers. :)

Our life on the D-List

Several Etsians have created a terrific new group for those sellers that have yet to be discovered. We (as I am a part of the team) like to refer to ourselves as the Etsy D-Listers.

Please welcome the new team and take a moment (and be one of the firsts) to visit the wonderful shops.

Everyday Pearls

Does anyone not look good in pearls??? The answer to that silly question is a definitive no! They come in so many shapes, sizes, and colors that you are sure to find the perfect look. For this reason, I just posted several new designs in my shops. Staying true to my overall classic esthetic, I whipped up a few elegant yet simple pieces. Which one would fit well in your wardrobe? I am partial to the Susan Necklace. Yet the Sarah Necklace has always been my number one seller.

Hope you are having a terrific weekend!
Julie

Just for me

Does anyone else feel as though once you have kids all you do is think of them, shop for them, plan meals for them? Definitely not a bad thing, and I am absolutely not complaining, I just thought I would take off the mommy hat for a moment and do a little window shopping for myself. No hairbows, tutus, or stuffed animals. Just a few items that I would actually like to wear. What do you think?

How cute is this dress by tokiki! Ok, so it is for summer, but like I said I am a little behind on shopping for stuff for me ;)

Ok, I feel little silly for picking a summer item first with colder weather creeping up...so how about this versatile coat dress by 13threads. You can never go wrong with this classic style and match everything color.Oddly enough, my favorite "color" is white. Laugh as you may, you can get a lot of mileage out of a great white shirt. Check this Snow White jersey top by larimeloom.

What clothing designer on Etsy's is your favorite?

Happy shopping.

Julie

My Little Princess

This was so funny that I had to share...Baby Bird E (who now likes to be called Candy Bird) was admiring my new necklace designs. Our conversation:

BB - "Mommy, I may I wear this necklace for my wedding?"

Me - "Of course, but that will be years off."

BB looking at a new design that I just completed... "But I want to wear this one too." Pause...wait for it... "Ok, I will wear this one for my first wedding and this one for my last wedding."

Me - Complete laughter

These are the designs that BB was oogling, the new Kate Necklaces.

And yes, for those of you wondering, she wears an outfit like this EVERY day. :)

Pink, pink, pink!

My world now revolves around the color pink! I guess that was bound to happen with two little girls, but I still feel sorry for my poor husband. Not really a fan of bright colors (my favorite color is white…odd I know), I catch myself drawn to all objects that are pink now. Maybe it is out of love for my sweet little girls, or maybe I am expanding my color palette, I wanted to share a few gorgeous items that have caught my eye lately.

Felted Flower with Long Crocheted Lariat/Scarf/Necklace/Bracelet by
BigFrozenMelon. What an amazing piece of wearable art!

To celebrate my little Baby Bird’s (as she likes to be called) third birthday, we are creating a beautiful room of pink and white. This photograph from AmeliaKayPhotography would look lovely on her wall.

Picking flowers is one of our favorite past times and it would be great to use this adorable bud vase by Clay Haven to keep pink roses and other blooms from our garden.

And then a little pink for me…WOW would I love to make something with these beauties from OMGTourmaline! I can just hear my daughter begging me to make a necklace for her out of these stones.

My purchases #2

My sweet baby A turned 1 last month and I had a wonderful day of festivities planned with cakes, cookies, handmade favors, etc. What I did not plan for was a tornado!!! Ok, they are now saying that it was a micro-burst...but when a 40 yr old tree is uprooted right outside of your window ripping up the deck and power lines are severed it sure seemed like a tornado.

After staying up baking until 4am, I sadly had to cancel the party (sniff); however, I was thankful that everyone was safe.

Anyway, what I wanted to share with all of you are the wonderful Etsy purchases that I made to celebrate and decorate. Above you can see several adorable hairbows and flowers from Busymomof5 and mazzy522 (see photo above of happy fam in front of uprooted tree). I even joined in the fun and wore a flower.

As favors I baked and iced cookies and tied them with adorable tags from papertreats. So cute and a big hit (cookies AND tags).

While the day did not turn out as planned, we were still able to celebrate and I am sure that baby A did not even realize the change in plans (she slept through the horrible storm).

- Julie

Necklace GIVEAWAY

I love this design so much that I wanted to give you a chance to have it!

Ways to enter (receive one entry for each!!!)
1 - Leave a comment with your name that links to somewhere that I can contact you.
2 - Heart my shop (www.JulieEllynDesigns.Etsy.com)
3 - Follow my blog (http://julieellyndesigns.blogspot.com)
4 - Follow me on Twitter @JEDdesigns

Winner will be announced 25 September.
I can not wait to hear from you!
Julie

My purchases...

Ok, I thought it may be interesting to tell you about things that I have purchased and really loved.

Purchase #1
Early this summer I bought an oversized purse thinking that I needed something huge to keep my mom necessities (wallet, keys, phone, animal crackers, wet ones, back up toys, etc.) After all, I now have two little ones which means more stuff, right? WRONG. I need both arms to carry one and hold the other's hand and the huge purse just gets in the way. After leaving the uncharacteristically large purse in the car for months and sticking things in my pocket or hand carrying my wallet instead, I decided I needed a change. Big was not the answer, I needed something small. A wristlet! Yes!

It took me awhile to find what I wanted, but I am so happy with my purchase! A Zippered Wristlet in Chocolate Lollipop fabric from AprilsOriginals I was giddy with anticipation of my new little saviour. It arrived just in time for my little European excursion for work and made the perfect accessory toting my passport, money, and camera.

I love it so much I am already shopping for my next one! Different colors for different outfits of course.

Some of my favorites...

Here are some of my current favorite things. I am already starting to shop for the holidays and am all about supporting fellow crafters. Thus far on my list are:

Cute soaps - SIL
Baby birds - my little baby bird
Notecards/paper - SIL
Purse/wristlet - Mom

Now what can I buy for my husband???

Coupon for free earrings

Here it is! The first coupon of the month...and many more to come!!! Buy any piece of jewelry and receive a free pair of Susan Freshwater Pearl earrings. Just uses the code SEPTEARRING in the message to buyer.

First Post

This is kind of scary, but I am jumping feet first into this blogging world. I hope, whether out of boredom or interest, you will find some fun things on my page.

So what are my plans? Can I be honest and say that I am not really sure? I would love to offer some fun jewelry give a-ways and coupons. I hope to feature some of the wonderful items that I come across on Etsy. Or I may just make you laugh with stories of my two year old (who likes to be called Baby Bird) and my butt-scooting one year old (will she ever walk????). I hope you stick around!