Tell me a little bit about yourself.
My name is Julie. I am married to a really wonderful man, and we have two children, a boy who is 5 and a girl who is 4. I am an “older” mom who feels very lucky to have started a business that enables me to be at home with my kids!

Where can we find you? (website, craft shows, etc.)
You can find me at missprettypretty.etsy.com . I am too busy with my online business these days to do craft fairs, but I am definitely an arts/crafts fair veteran! I earned extra money and sometime supported myself on craft fairs for about 20 years. Back then, I made a lot of embellished clothing, denim shirts, sweatshirts, etc. All of that applique work was a good foundation for making my playhouses.

What first got you interested in your craft?
I started sewing when I was very young, and am self taught. When I was about 20 years old, I invested in a really good (although used) New Home sewing machine, and discovered machine applique. I loved it! I started making shirts for my mom, then her friends started buying them, and suddenly I was doing craft fairs and doing very well. I have always loved putting all the applique pieces together to make a picture, almost like a puzzle. That was almost 23 years ago! Now,
with my card table playhouses, I am still doing applique work, only on a larger scale. Some of the designs on my playhouses are actually designs I created many years ago to embellish children’s clothing.

Please describe your creative process (how, when, materials, etc).
When my nieces and nephews were toddlers (about 12 years ago), I decided to create these little houses for them to enjoy. I love handmade toys that encourage children’s imaginations and help them to play creatively. Now, I have my own children who help me dream up new designs! A couple of years ago, my sister encouraged me to sell my playhouses on Etsy, and the business just exploded! It’s been so much fun for me, and I have been very, very lucky.

Usually, I get an idea about a playhouse and think about it and mull it over for several weeks before I draw it out. I try to imagine what would spark my kids’ imaginations, and that helps a lot with the designing. My husband has had a lot of great ideas, too, and some of my customers have helped me create some of my most popular playhouses by providing me with their ideas. Sometimes it seems like a group effort! I really strive to make playhouses that will make children’s
eyes light up, and that will become an heirloom toy that is played with and remembered for generations.

Apart from creating things, what do you do?
I spend a lot of time working on my business these days, but I also teach water aerobics at a local college where I was the Aquatics Director before I had my first child. I have taught swimming lessons and water aerobics and have trained lifeguards and swim instructors for most of my adult life. I love to sew, swim, read and spend time with my family.

Is there anything else you’d like to share?
Thank you so very much for the opportunity to be featured on your website! I do appreciate it so very, very much!

Where can we find you? (website, craft shows, etc.)

Most of our products are available on our website, www.NikkiInStitches.com. Custom requests are the most fun for me to work on. I feel like I get to be even more creative with them. Those are available at any time, just contact us through our website for details. We can do custom apparel similar to what you see on the website, but also blankets and quilts to match any nursery decor or theme, as well as cards, invitations, and birth announcements. Nikki, In Stitches products can also be found at craft shows in Pennsylvania and Connecticut this upcoming fall.

What first got you interested in your craft?

I have always been a crafter. I have always dabbled in different mediums and techniques. The last few years I found myself making more and more items to give as gifts to friends and family members having new babies, so it just seemed natural to focus my business on baby items. I also enjoy making these items the most. I get to use a variety of techniques and I get to make items in a wide variety of styles, so I never get bored.

Please describe your creative process (how, when, materials, etc).

Most often, I get a picture of an item in my head, and then think how could I make this into something tangible. I try to take as many classes as I can to learn different techniques, and then think of ways to adapt them to fit my products. If I’m working on a custom item, it helps to see pictures of where the item will go. For example, if a customer requests a quilt to match a nursery, I like to see pictures of the nursery. It helps me get a better idea of the customer’s style and preferences. I then usually come up with a few ideas, and discuss what aspects of each the customer likes and dislikes, and then combine this together to come up with a final product. I work from home. I have two children, so I don’t always get as much continuous time to work as I’d like, but I keep myself to strict timelines in order to keep on top of the demand for my items. I try to use natural fabrics as often as possible. All of the onesies I make start with a 100% cotton base. Unless a customer has requested specific fabric, most of the quilts I make are also made from cotton fabrics and wool batting. I also try to only use fabrics and yarns that are both washable and dryable, considering baby items tend to need to be laundered frequently.

Apart from creating things, what do you do?

Aside from my business, I spend a majority of my time being a wife and mom. It is sometimes difficult to balance all three pieces of my life, wife, mother and small business owner, but a very supportive husband and family often help make it much easier. My mother-in-law is my business partner and I couldn’t ask for anyone better to help me get my business started. She is so supportive and always willing to jump in whenever I need help. She is great with customers. She also has great style, which I’m hoping starts to show itself more and more in our products.

A bit about yourself:

The basics… I am a practicing interior designer with an unquenchable thirst for all things ‘design’. The loves of my life are my totally rad-tastic husband, James and my amazing daughter, Madeline (a.k.a Maddie-Cakes, a.k.a. Madzilla, a.k.a. Future Heartbreaker/ Pulitzer Prize Winner/ Well-Adjusted Human Being).

Design… I have always had a passion for creativity. I was the kid in class who would get in trouble for doodling in her notebook, and the ‘go-to’ girl for the mural you wanted on your backpack or school t-shirts. I was recruited into theatrical set design in high school, which inspired my interest into architecture and led to my career as an interior designer.

My favorite things… a good book, inspiring design and architecture, hot chocolate and a fire on a freezing, cold Nebraska day, dancing with my husband, laughing with my daughter, French pasteries at Le Quartier bakery, and a cup of coffee with a good friend.

Where can I find you?

www.piccolinadesigns.etsy.com
www.piccolinadesigns.com

What first got you interested in your craft?

When I discovered I was pregnant with my daughter, I began looking for modern children’s clothing and was surprised to find that there weren’t a lot of options. It inspired me to pull out my sewing machine and start making them myself. When she was about six months old, and becoming a mobile maniac, I decided to purchase her a tutu for a six month photo shoot. I had a vision in my mind of what I wanted, but could not find what I was looking for… and it spiraled from there. I had several friends and family members with young daughters who were endowed with tutu gifts, and I began getting orders through word of mouth. I recently launched my website and Etsy site, and it has been a wonderful experience. The craft community is so supportive of each other, and have helped make it a smooth transition into the online business. It is extremely rewarding when someone falls in love with something you design. It is what drives you to design something else, and to evolve into a better designer.

Please describe your creative process (how, when, materials, etc).

The “Signature Peacock Tutu” was my first design, and was inspired by the rich and sophisticated colors of the peacock feather. With a feather in hand, I pulled tulle colors directly from the peacock feather, and added several layers of shimmer tulle to mimic the iridescent shine of the feather and added thin ribbons into the layers of tulle, to give it a more airy, delicate quality.

Many of my designs have been inspired by children’s books. The “Olivia Tutu” was inspired by “Olivia” by Ian Falconer. I loved the stark black, white and red color scheme of his books, and the precocious little pig who has a wild imagination. So, I designed a tutu in the Olivia color scheme, with some attitude. I imagined what SHE would pick, if given a choice.

Basically, I begin with a vision of how I want a design to look, and I will do several iterations until it meets my expectations. With a background in art and architecture, I try to layer colors, textures, etc. as much as possible. Even in a ’simple pink’ tutu, I include at least three tones of color to give it depth.

Apart from creating things, what do you do?

I have an extremely busy toddler, who is an every day adventure. We take trips to the zoo, hikes at the state park, and go swimming at the lake. We read books. My days are full of family, friends and the joy of unexpected things waiting to happen.

Is there anything else you’d like to share?

Thank you for taking the time to create your site! As I mentioned before, the craft community is an incredibly welcoming group of talented people. It was such an unexpected surprise to have the welcome this community has provided, and I couldn’t be more happy to be a part of it.

Here is the link for the instructions and measurements to create your own Sweet Greetings – Large and Small Portfolio. You will need to have an Adobe® Reader® to be able to view the pattern.

Tell me a little bit about yourself:
I am a stay at home mom with three wonderful children Michael (11) Matthew (3) and Megan (1 1/2 going on 10). I work part time at Joann Fabrics on weekends, for my sanity, and a nice discount.

Where can we find you?
http://www.bagsbymelanie.etsy.com or http://www.handbagsbymelanie.com. I do the occasional craft fair in the fall, and once my inventory is built back up again I plan on finding boutiques to sell my goods.

What first got you interested in your craft?
A friend of mine asked me to re-create her favorite bag, once I did that and realized how easily I was able to do it, I pulled out my machine and started playing. With having my son being such a mellow baby and the financial and moral support of my husband, Mike, I decided that this was as good a time as any to try making bags to sell. That was almost three years ago, I have come a long way since then. Of course that mellow baby turned into a very inquisitive toddler, along with a baby girl who was less content and has given me less time to create. However, even though I have less time to create, it has given me better appreciation for the time I do have and a greater drive. However with out the love and support of those near and dear to me I wouldn’t be who and where I am today.

Please describe your creative process (how, when, materials, etc):
I often let the fabric tell me what it wants to be. Just because I have a piece of fabric doesn’t mean in belongs in a tote bag. When it is creating time I have to have absolutely no interruptions (with 2 small children at home I am sure you can imagine that isn’t always easy). I make one thing at a time, which means more often then not I will not make two of the same thing ever. Each item is made from start to finish with attention to detail. I love playing with different fabrics, and texture. My all time favorite thing to work with is cotton, but not just any cotton mind you, but “the good stuff”.

Apart from creating things, what do you do?
My children are my world, when I am not crafting something I am doing everything with them. I take them everywhere, even though sometimes it isn’t the easiest thing to do. We spend a lot of time outside when the weather cooperates. I also try to crafting with my oldest son when I can keep him interested. I enjoy a good game of Scrabble online, it helps me relax and for the most part makes me feel smarter.

Is there anything else you’d like to share?
Love what you do and do what you love is something I truely believe. Life is too short to not enjoy it!! Hug and kiss your kids every day (even though they tell you that they don’t want kisses), and most importantly have fun and laugh often.

Afghans for Afghans
Afghans for Afghans is a humanitarian and educational people-to-people project that sends hand-knit and crocheted blankets and garments to the beleaguered people of Afghanistan.

American Sewing Guild – Giving Back
The American Sewing Guild has a National Community Service program where each year they choose a cause to “give back to.” This year, 2009, ASG is sewing standard size pillow cases for Albuquerque’s Ronald McDonald House.

Angels for Hope
This organization sends crocheted angels to severely injured and/or chronically ill people, as well as their caregivers, or just someone that needs hope – as a tangible reminder that they are not alone, that others care, and that you are remembered in their thoughts and prayers.

Binky Patrol
A binky is a homemade blanket that can be sewn, knitted, crocheted or quilted. This organization distributes blankets to children in need of comfort across the country.

Bundles of Love
Bundles of Love is an all volunteer non-profit organization, incorporated in the state of Minnesota to help infants and their families. Thier ultimate goal – that no family in Minnesota who needs clothing and bedding for their newborn, correctly sized clothing for premature infant, comfort items for their hospitalized infant, or bereavement items for a lost infant – will be without these items.

Caps for Kids
Providing needy children with cozy hats to keep them warm is what Caps for Kids is all about. Nearly one million caps, along with other children’s accessories, have been knitted and crocheted by volunteers since the program began. The hats are given to non-profit, non denominational agencies in the communities of the donors.

Care Wear
Care Wear is a nationwide group of volunteers who knit, crochet, and/or sew, providing handmade baby items to hospitals. All Care Wear items are given free to infants, children and their parents.

Chemo Caps
Chemo Caps is a group of knitters that donate their time by making hand-knit caps for cancer patients in hospital oncology units and hospice.

CitizenSam
Citizen S.A.M. is composed of volunteers who desire to support our Armed Forces and help preserve our precious freedom. Many programs to particpate in including: Helmet Liners for the Troops, Quilts for the Wounded, and Letters of Support.

CUREchief
Their mission is to give CUREchiefs away to those who are undergoing treatment for cancer. Their goal is to allow every cancer patient worldwide to have a CUREchief.

Dolly Hugs
Dolly Hugs is designed to “hug” the child that holds her. Her arms will wrap around the child’s neck and her face will press against the child’s cheek, bestowing a little kiss.

The Hugs Project
The Hugs Project is committed to improving life for our dedicated U.S. Military. Their mission is to place a “hug” (cooling necktie) around the neck of every American living in the Middle East.

Love Letters: Random Cards of Kindness, Inc.
Their goal is to create positive and inspirational homemade cards for children with life-threatening illnesses. They also hope to inspire others to establish chapters in their hometowns.

Newborns in Need
NIN is a charity organized to take care of sick and needy babies and their families; and in cases of crisis, to help where help is needed.
There are many ways you can help this worldwide organization, everything from making items for newborns to encouraging school and community groups to make things.

Operation Teddy Bear
Donate crosstitched squares, chosen from their list of themes. Squares are made into different items and money raised from these items are donated to a specific charity.

Project Linus
We are a non-profit organization that makes hand-made blankets and quilts. These are then distributed to children of all ages in need.

Snuggles Project
This popular project was created to give comfort and security to shelter animals as they await their new homes.

Stitches from the Heart
Stitches from the Heart is a non-profit organization that sends handmade clothing, blankets, and love to premature babies all across the nation. They also have a senior program that helps seniors help others by donating yarn and supplies.

Teddies for Tragedies
This organization provides teddy bears to children in need all over the world.

Touching Little Lives
Their mission is to touch the lives of needy premature and newborn infants in Ohio, to do all that they can to give them, free of any charge, the necessities that every newborn needs.

Wrap Them in Love
Their Mission is to collect donated quilts and distribute them to children around the world so, they can be wrapped in the love of a quilt.