Mom SHOP Monday (with TreacherCreatures)

Are you looking to add some vibrant color and fun to your life?  Maybe your child needs a special, one of a kind, friend to love?  Look no further than the whimsical creations of TreacherCreatures on Etsy!
Dawn, the shop owner,  has created a magical zoo full of adorable creatures; and she accepts custom orders to make you something extra special.

I asked Dawn a few questions about her unique designs and motherhood.  Here's what she had to say:


What made you decide to become a SAHM?
When our daughter was born I decided I wanted to stay at home and have remained so even since she started school so that I could meet her from school and have as much time with her as possible whilst she grew up. I took the opportunity to pursue my creative passions which initially were painting and now include sewing.

How do you find time to create while you have your child at home with you?
Now our daughter is at school I have more time but even when she is home I find we can both pursue our own interests whilst spending time together. My daughter will play around me whilst I sew and shows a great interest in all things creative herself.

In what ways do you feel your child inspires your work?
Initially I starting making sock animals for my daughter, who has quite a collection, and I would make the animals that I knew she would love. Now she helps me decide what animals to try next and gives them all names for me. She is a very good critique of design.

Which is your favorite item in your shop and why?
My sock Flamingo as it was such fun to design and sew and is my favourite colour as well.

What is the best advice that you can give to another SAHM who would like to start up an ETSY shop?

Have a go. I have thoroughly enjoyed the experience and it has motivated me to try new designs and it has definitely fueled my passion for creativity. I have met so many great crafts people and the Etsy Forums are really supportive

Thank you Dawn!  I agree that children can be the best critiques for our work.  I decided to ask my son Daniel which item in your shop was his favorite and he chose three! I guess that proves, even beyond my own testimonial, that your creatures are completely engaging and lovable!

Be sure to check out the other Mom SHOP Monday features you may have missed.  And if you are a stay at home mom with an Etsy shop, please leave a comment below so that I can consider you for upcoming interviews!


hello love designs
piece by peace designs
knitted for ewe

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Mom SHOP Monday (with Knitted for Ewe)

The multi-talented Nicole, of the Etsy shop "Knitted for Ewe" is in the spotlight for today's feature.  I find her shop to be full of colors and textures and can truly see that each piece has a special meaning behind it.  She has some great advice for those of you who are considering opening your own shop. Read about what she has to say:


What made you decide to become a stay at home mom (SAHM for short)
I was a working mum up until my youngest daughter was 6 years old. There were days when we would take off work and kindergarten just so we could spend some time together. When we moved to America to so I could marry my American husband, thats when I became a SAHM. My oldest daughter is now 15 and my younger daughter is 6. I love being there when they get home from school and hearing about their day. Its nice not to worry about if someones going to be home when there's no school or if their sick.

How do you find time to create while you have your children at home with you?

When its something you love to do you simply have to make time to do it. My girls have always loved watching my projects come together and seeing the finished product in the end. My youngest now has a passion for knitting so Im passing it on to another generation. I also love doing nature photography and now my oldest daughter has a passion for photography. I think watching me working on my crafts over the years has inspired my children to be creative so dont just wait until their sleeping, get them involved. 

In what ways do you feel your children inspire your work?

My children inspire my work alot. I love to knit toys because its wonderful to create something a child falls in love with. I know a toy is going to be a hit when while Im working on it, they both want one. I tend to make alot of stuff that their into and the colours that they like so they keep me inspired all the time. 

Which is your favourite item in your shop and why?
My favourite item in my shop is my bright green felted bag with the blue bird. The wool that I used came from a woolen sweater that I unraveled so it really is a labour of love. One of my favourite parts about this bag is the handmade ceramic bird button that I bought from an Etsy shop. I love the way it feels and looks. I also love the combination of the bright green with the blue, I think its a great colour combination.


What is the best advice you can give to another SAHM who would like to start up an Etsy shop?
The best advice I can give to a SAHM who want to open an Etsy shop is to just jump in and give it a go. I thought about it for 3 years before I opened my shop. It took me so long because I kept doubting myself. I wish I hadnt. Just take it one step at a time and plan everything out before you sign up. Planning ahead helped me out alot. The people in the Etsy community are so kind a helpful. Jump in any Etsy chat and you will find plenty of people willing to give you advice and helpful tips. Just give it a go, what do you have to lose?






Want to know what my favorite from Nicole's sweet shop is?  Who can resist Marcel the Mouse?... I know I can't!  Thank you Nicole for your inspirational words, it sounds like someday soon we will be seeing your children's work on Etsy too!

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Mom SHOP Monday (with Peace by PEACE Designs)

A stay at home mom to four, Sarah from the Etsy shop “Piece by PEACE Designs” is quite a busy lady!  
Her shop offers beautiful and unique handmade jewelry.  She has some great jewelry sets, including bridal pieces; and until Mother’s Day, 50% of all proceeds in her shop go toward Haiti Relief.  
Shop for a great gift and give to a great cause!

I asked Sarah a few questions about how she balances the nurturing of her children and her craft. Here’s what she had to say:

What made you decide to become a stay at home mom? (SAHM for short)

“For me, there was no real choice to be a SAHM, I always knew I want to be one. I never ever want to miss out on a single part of being a mom (to all four of my kids), the good, the fun, the tantrums and the puke. I love being the one doing it all for them!”

How do you find time to create while you have your children at home with you?

“I find time to create in as many ways as I can. I do it when they're occupied with their toys, once my husband is home and can take over for a while or sometimes I even sit them down to make jewelry (or something else) with me.”

In what ways do you feel your children inspire your work?

“My children inspire me by being who they are. They are why I am at home and the reason I have the time to create. Being a SAHM, I feel like I am not stressed out everyday always trying to fit everything in. I can relax and take it easy with them most of the time and they make me happy. I love it when I see them being creative!”

Which is your favorite item in your shop and why?

“This one is hard! If I have to pick one, my favorite piece in my shop would have to be the Dublin Skies necklace (and bracelet). I love the colors and the bird pendant. I am into long necklaces at the moment and this one is simple but really cute!”

What is the best advice that you can give to another SAHM who would like to start up an ETSY shop?

“The best advice I can give another SAHM who wants to open an Etsy account is to be patient and not give up. There are a lot of great artists on Etsy and it can seem overwhelming. Try to look at it as creating because you love it and any money you make is just an added bonus.”

Such great advice Sarah!  If anyone with four children can find patience, I think anyone can!  

You've seen Sarah's favorite item; HERE is mine

This piece just looks so calming and refreshing.  I can imagine it coordinating with many different outfit styles!  
Remember to check out Piece by PEACE Designs to find something special to call your own!

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Mom SHOP Monday (with Hello Love Designs)

I am pleased to introduce the first of what will be a recurring article on my blog: ‘Mom SHOP Monday.’  In it I will talk with other stay at home moms and discuss how they have been able to strike a balance nurturing both their creative spirits and their children.

For the first installment, I chose Jenifer from the Etsy shop ‘hello love designs.’  Her shop has been open for a mere month, and already she has seen much success.  Browsing through her shop you can see why.  Her assortment of birth announcements, birthday celebration cards and invitations are stunning!  I have a feeling she has quite a future ahead of her!

I asked Jenifer a few questions regarding her family and her business. Here’s what she had to say:

What made you decide to become a stay at home mom? (SAHM for short)

“My husband and I discussed before we ever had children that when we did decide to start a family, I would stay at home with them until the youngest reached school age. So when we did have our first child nearly 8 years ago, it wasn't an issue - we had already made the decision. I wanted to be a sahm because how our children are raised was an important issue to us, and God has blessed us enough for me to be able to stay home. I wanted to be the one to teach my children. I wanted to be the one to comfort them when they were hurt or sad. I wanted to see, experience, and rejoice when they reached their next milestone. I'm surely not against child care, but I do believe that staying home with children is an enriching and blessed experience for the whole family.”

How do you find time to create while you have your children at home with you?

“Time! That is what everyone needs more of, right?! It is definitely a challenge to find time to do business with children at home. I create my designs and conduct business during three main times of the day: early morning before my children are awake or getting ready for school, during nap times, and late at night. I'm a night person, so I do most of my work at night.”

In what ways do you feel your children inspire your work?

“My children have inspired me in so many ways! So much so that I've written my own unpublished children's books based upon some adventures we've had. When I'm designing cards, I think about the personalities of my kids. Both of my kids, ages 7 and 18 months, have very colorful personalities, so you'll see a lot of color in my designs. I think about the past birthday parties that we've had and what kinds of interests my children have at the moment and I'll use those inspirations for my designs.”

Which is your favorite item in your shop and why?

“It's so hard to choose a shop favorite of mine because I spend so much time creating each one and I am proud of each one. It's almost like saying, "this one is my favorite child!" It's so funny because after I design a card, I'll say, "Oh, now this is my new favorite design! I LOVE it!" Then I'll create the next card and say the same thing. 
I would have to say that some of my "favorite" designs are all bird related. This  "little pink birdie initial" birth announcement was one of my very first creations when I started my business and has remained the single most popular design in my store.”

What is the best advice that you can give to another SAHM who would like to start up an ETSY shop?

“I highly encourage stay at home mom's to open their own Etsy store! It's a lot of work but very rewarding. The best advice I can give to those wanting to start an Etsy shop is the single most important rule of marketing and that is to keep your store name in front of people. Advertising is expensive, so I've found it very useful to promote my store in the Etsy forums, create treasuries, comment on others treasuries, and participate in blog events, comment on other's blogs, and whatever you can do to keep your name memorable. It's also important to take everything with a grain of salt, meaning don't take your store so seriously. It is a serious business but have fun, enjoy creating, meet new people, do what you love. Etsy requires a minimal investment, so it is the very best way to get your products out to others.”

You’ve seen her favorite items; do you want to know what mine is?  THIS!

I am sure that one of the boys will have a fire truck themed birthday party in the future, and I know just who to contact to help me spread the news!

Now it’s your turn! If you like what you see, you can enter for a FREE design at 'By Hand Giveaway' .  Just leave a comment at the bottom of their blog post to be entered in the giveaway.  Contest ends April 9^th! 
(NOTE: comments for the giveaway should be made at the 'By Hand Giveaway' blog, not on this one! thanks!)

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