Local Featured Seller: Jump Studios

Who are you?  Jump Studios (owned by Jenny Profet Grainger)

Where are you located?  Raleigh

What do you create?  Colorful, mostly useful items for around the house and for the kiddos. Color your life! is the tag line for the shop

What is your favorite place to visit in the "triangle"?  Downtown Raleigh! I love the small town feel of seeing familiar faces but like knowing that we have access to big town resources like libraries, stores, museums, education and healthcare.

Casserole Carrier

  When did you start creating?  I've been creating since I was a kid. At the age of four, I made a play washer and dryer from notebook paper and used cut up straws for "detergent." We always had plenty of art supplies on hand and my whole family was always working on a project. But I actually didn't realize that I was creative until I went to NC State's College of Design to study architecture in grad school.

Why did you choose your medium?  I taught myself to sew when I inherited my grandmother's very nice Bernina sewing machine. I like making things that are useful or can be worn. Since I never got the chance to sew with my grandma, I like that I get to think about her while I'm working.

Play Mat

 Why did you choose your shop name?  My initials were JMP and my daddy called me "j[u]mp". Naming the company Jump Studios seemed like a good way to keep it personal but keeps my options opened as the business expands.

What are your goals?   My goal is to infuse color and fun into everyday life. I hope to be able to work on Jump Studios full time.

Nursing Cover

What do you do when you are not creating?  We have spent the past couple of years renovating our 1920's bungalow. I've started doing a few posts on the blog about that process. When I'm not doing that or sewing, I love to cook and play outside.
The shop is a little low right now as I just put lots of things at the Marketplace by Gifts with a Heart and am gearing up for the Christmas Carousel on Thanksgiving weekend!

 Besides etsy, you can also find Jump Studios on Facebook, Twitter, and the Jump Studios Blog.

NCTriangle Team Members who'd like to be featured, please contact ShoreDebris.

Local Featured Seller: Savvy Frills

Who are you?  Karen Williams – owner, Savvy Frills

Where are you located?  Cary, NC

What do you create?  My store sells my handmade items - mainly fiber arts (knit, crochet, woven).  As I build my store, I will also sell handmade beaded items and decorative stationery

What is your favorite place to visit in the "triangle"? My favorite place to visit in the triangle is Downtown Knits in Apex.  There I can sit with my friends, knit and crochet, and gather ideas.  I’ve formed some wonderful friendships there and have been able to sharpen my skills greatly.

Growing up, I’ve always watched my mom sew, knit, and crochet.  When I was in high school, my aunt taught me how to cross stitch.  I tried to knit, but didn’t really have the dexterity.  I picked crocheting simple stitches.  I didn’t do much creating for many years – not until my children were older and could entertain themselves safely.  I began crocheting a few items, but my family could only use so many scarves.

When my son was 5 years old, he was diagnosed with a rare disease (now classified as a type of cancer.)  When he was 9 years old, his doctors found a brain tumor related to the disease.  Over the course of his treatment, we had such generous support from friends and family.  I felt strongly about “paying it forward”, but wasn’t sure where to start.  After lots of prayers and personal reflection, I found an on-line charity to find needed homes for my handmade items.  After several years of sending monthly packages to Pennsylvania, I felt the need to pull back from that work and focus closer around home.

I signed up with Head Huggers as a satellite office for Wake County and surrounding areas.  At church I formed a group “Crafting Blessings” and taught many of the ladies how to loom knit.  Over these past few years, I continue to be amazed by the contributions and talents.  I’ve recently received contributions from a lady in the western NC mountains, and have been contacted by several others throughout Wake County.  Our handmade items have been distributed to local hospitals, cancer centers, hospice, children's homes, and shelters.  We’ve even sent bags of items overseas in the missions fields.

Also, in these past few years, I began carving out one evening each week for some “me” time.  I decided to check out Knit Night at my local yarn store in Apex – Downtown Knits.  All of the ladies are so talented, and I felt so much like a beginner.  Everyone was so nice and encouraging, and decided to try my hand once again at knitting.  Before I knew it, I was knitting more that crocheting.  Not only have I sharpened all of my skills, I have learned so much about different yarns, explored lots of beautiful patterns, and made some treasurable friendships.

To pick my most cherished handmade item would be difficult.  Cherished by me……… not really.  My joy comes from items for other people and seeing them enjoy and appreciate the gift.  My children have afghans – I love seeing them cuddling up under them.  I’ve made prayer shawls and afghans for loved ones, who have told me over and over how comforted they felt while wrapped up.  I receive thank-you letters from patients who are warmed by the chemo hats I’ve made.  Those are the items I most cherish.  Not the actual item, but the way the item makes someone feel comforted and loved.

To make my items, all I need is some yarn and needles (or a hook).  Depending on where I am, how much free time I have, how much room I have, how warm or cold the temperature is, I can find the perfect project to take with me.  Working with these materials is so easy for on-the-go.  With the purchase of a tablet, even the patterns and additional help can be pulled up in a second.

My goal with this Etsy shop is to supplement my family’s income.  I’d love to be able to put my current full-time job behind me in a few years and devote that time instead to building and maintaining the Savvy Frills store.

 

For now, my days are spent working my full-time job, taking care of my family (and pets), attending church, working on charity projects, creating items for and maintaining my Savvy Frills store, exercising to keep the doctors off my back, and spending quality time with my family and friends.  There never seems to be enough hours in a day -enough days in the weekend, but I continue to be blessed with my accomplishments.

When people stop in my Etsy shop, it is my hope that people will find that perfect gift.  I like to think people are drawn to Etsy in search of quality handmade items.  I, personally, believe in supporting local artists.  I plan on getting most of my Christmas shopping done on Etsy this year and years to come.

In addition to etsy, Savvy Frills is also on its own website, a blog, twitter, facebook, instagram, and pinterest. 

NCTriangle Team Members who'd like to be featured, please contact Shore Debris.

Local Featured Seller: 8PM Beauty

Who are you?  Cheryl Brown, Shop name: 8PM Beauty

Where are you located?  I live and create in Cary, NC

What do you create?  Soaps, lip balms, body butters, and moisturizers

What is your favorite place to visit in the "triangle"?  My favorite place to visit is Cary Downtown Farmers Market. I love the atmosphere and the amazing variety of veggies, crafts, and baked goods that can be found there!

"Soap while in the mold" When a customer purchases a bar of soap, they only see the design in that particular bar. Here is how I get to see it. To me, it’s one big piece of art.

When did you start creating?  I started making soap about 4 years ago. I found that commercial soap was causing me some skin problems. My skin was dry, flaky, and just not at its best. That’s when I started to learn how to make soap and I found that those problems I had quickly went away.

What is your most cherished handmade item?  The most cherished handmade item I own would be the beautiful quilt on my bed made by my mom.

What inspires you?  I find inspiration not so much from what I see, instead I concern myself with how what I see makes me feel. The majority of my soaps are not named by how they smell, they are named by a feeling the scent gives. For example there's a soap on the product line scented with plumeria. Naming it "Plumeria" would have been an easy option, but I think this limits the experience for the customers. So instead of naming it "Plumeria" it is named "Sprung On Spring" so that when a customer picks it up, reads the name on the back, and smells it, it allows them to reflect on their own memories of Spring. Those might be memories of childhood, playing outside with friends, special occasions with family, etc. It's about capturing a feeling, an emotion, or a memory. And it's there with those feelings, emotions, and memories that I find inspiration.
 

Eve's Garden Handmade Cold Process Soap

  Where do you create?  I create in my apartment, more specifically, the kitchen.

Why did you choose your shop name?  I realize people often wonder why I chose the name 8PM Beauty. I was trying to think of a time of day (or night) when most women are doing something beauty related. It happened that 8PM stuck out to me. It seems that’s a time we’re getting into a bubble bath or shower, washing our make up off, or even getting ready for a night out on the town.

What are your goals?   I think every shop owner on Etsy wants to grow their business and increase recognition of their brand, the same is true at 8PM Beauty. But going beyond that, I’d like to help educate the public about skin care. I’ve met some health conscious people who are careful about what they put in their bodies, but not as careful about what they put on their bodies. Knowing what’s in the products you put on your skin can really make a difference in your appearance.

 

"Temptation."  September's Soap of the Month.  Only available to Soap of the Month Subscribers.

What do you do when you are not creating?  I’m not sure I ever stop creating! Even when I’m at my full time job, I keep a small notebook with me to write down ideas for new products, giveaways, etc. But in my off time I enjoy spending time with my family, friends, and my dog. 

After visiting 8PM Beauty on etsy, don't forget to like the 8PM Beauty Facebook Page and follow 8PM Beauty on Twitter!

NCTriangle Members who'd like to be featured, please contact Shore Debris.

Local Featured Seller: Carved by Heart

 Who are you? Carved By Heart. It's run by us, Alice and Carl, a wife-husband team.

Where are you located? Durham

What do you create?  From wood we carve plaques, house signs, bird feeders, mailboxes, wind chimes, and clocks. We personalize many of our carvings and take custom orders. Our slogan, "If you think it; we carve it!"

What is your favorite place to visit in the "triangle"?  It's hard to pick a favorite. We enjoy going to Brightleaf Square because it has such a magical feel to it. Also love the historic and restored buildings (we love wood!) in downtown Durham.

  

Log Cabin Mail Box

 When did you start creating?  We started creating two years ago, but Carl was building items long before then. He built a log cabin in New York and furniture to go with it. I (Alice) am not the builder, but the admirer. I also do the admin work for our business and the promotional.

We took a while to get ourselves focused (we do lead dramatic lives with step-kids, teens, and two dogs), and didn't find Etsy until a friend where we sell at a brick and mortar store in Raleigh--Gifts With A Heart---told us that Etsy is a great place to sell so we opened our shop last October.

What is your most cherished handmade item?  I loved a moose clock we sold a few months ago. It was simple, rustic, and adorable. Carl liked a rustic twig moose clock that we had in our hallway until it sold in a private sale.

Of course, anything personalized in my son Daniel's memory is cherished by me.

Why did you choose your medium?  Wood is so beautiful with its own personality. With Carl's love for carving and crafting, this medium lets us create so many varieties of products from clocks to wind chimes to toilet paper dispensers.

House Number Sign

 Who inspires you?  My son Daniel was four when he died in 1997 from cancer treatments. A lot of our work is inspired by his short life. We design items for the bereavement community----personalized garden plaques, wind chimes, photo plaques, etc. We sell at a grief/loss site as well.

Where do you create? In our garage. All the tools are in there as well as a recycled work space. No room for the car!

Why did you choose your company name?  We debated about it for a few days and then when we narrowed it down to three choices, we ran them by a friend in California and she thought Carved By Heart was it. The name does reflect what we do.

What are your goals?  We want to increase our business. We've been on Etsy for about 9 months and have seen an increase in visibility and sales. We want more sales (who doesn't, right?). We also do wholesale birdhouses and would like to see that door open wide for us.

 

Wind Chimes

What do you do when you are not creating?  We think of ideas for new products. Carl comes up with the best ones. I'm an author, so I am usually editing a novel or hoping for another book deal or writing at my blog. Carl has taught our boxer, Levi, to sing when he plays the harmonica (Carl plays, not the boxer), so that provides us some fun. We'd love to take Levi to the Blue Note Grille one evening and see if he'll sing when a member of a band plays the harmonica. 

After you've browsed the wonderful selection of wood items at Carved by Heart on etsy, don't forget to like them on Facebook, follow them on twitter, and read up on Alice's blog.

NCTriangle Team Members who'd like to be featured, please contact Shore Debris.

Local Featured Seller: Kitsch Lorraine Style

My name is Pamela Batson and my store is Kitsch Lorraine Style. I'm located in Charlotte. I was born and raised here, then moved to Chicago in 1996, and recently moved back here last year. I make handmade jewelry including pieces with resin, natural stones, seashells, and some vintage pieces mixed in with new pieces I find. My inspiration comes from some of my favorite things, including Day of the Dead memorabilia, classic films and silent movies, nautical themed and vintage items.

Day of the Dead Cats Photo Frame Earrings

 My favorite place to visit in the triangle would probably be the State fair because I'm a big kid at heart.   I've always enjoyed doing creative things, but I just started seriously making jewelry about a year ago. I love working with resin and polymer clay because there are so many uses for them. Some of my favorite things to make are the resin bracelets. They remind me of the 60's Lucite bangles which I love.

Wire Wrapped Evil Eye Bracelet

 I create most of my items in my home. I chose the name Kitsch Lorraine Style because my middle name is Lorraine and I love vintage B-52's (ie: Quiche Lorraine). My most cherished item is a necklace I made in dedication to my great-grandmother who raised me. My personal goals include branching out and selling my jewelry in different boutiques around the area and possibly in other locations in the U.S.

Sea Shell Eco Resin Bracelet Bangle

When I'm not making jewelry, I am watching animals (I have a pet-sitting business), catching up with friends, or taking advantage of going to the beach and the mountains.

Don't forget to heart your favorite items in  Kitsch Lorraine Style!

NCTriangle Team members who'd like to be featured, please contact Shore Debris.

Local Featured Seller: Goofy Loopies

Who are you?  My name is Vanessa Evans and I own Goofyloopies.

Where are you located?  We are located out of our home in Nashville, NC.

Why do you create?  I craft because it relieves my stress; most of the time. It is my get away, my meditation per say.

What is your favorite place to visit in the "triangle"?  I don't live far from Raleigh. I love to go shopping at Triangle Town Center. I venture from there over to Capital Blvd and shop on.

Personalized Tempered Glass Cutting Board

 When did you start creating?  I have always been a crafty person. When I was growing up I loved to draw anything; as long as I could make it colorful.  I loved playing school so papercrafting was always an attraction for me.

What is your most cherished handmade item?  My first afghan I crocheted I would say is my most cherished handmade item. I learned to crochet from my grandmother in law. My first afghan was out of some of the yarn she left me when she passed on.

What inspires you?  My creative juices always burst open when I get near anything of color. Love to get lost in the yarn, ribbons, materials, and buttons......Somehow I believe it just all goes together.
 

Where do you create?  My house looks like a miniature craft store. I create mostly in my upstairs room. I started in the utility room  of our home. I outgrew that and moved into one of the smaller bedrooms. I have 2 sons and one of them wanted that  room; at the time they were sharing a room.  Our upstairs wasn't complete. So, we started that project. Now, I create upstairs at home. A lot more spacious, means I can have more projects going at a time. Loving It~

Personalized Garden Flag

 Why did you choose your shop/company name?  When I first decided to start crafting for a profit, I was doing mostly paper crafts. With that I came up with the name Paper Does It. Once I started crochet, I loved to try all of the different stitches. One day as I did some research on the different stitches I came up with Goofyloopies because of all the different loops. Not to mention; it goes well with my family. We're all a little goofy.

What are your goals?  I plan to continue crafting until I can't do it any longer. I love to take my crocheting on vacations with me. It is a easy packable and carry craft. I take it with me to my full-time job and crochet at lunch. Seems useless not using time wisely. I hope to grow enough to be able to stop working my full-time job. I want to make things for people because it makes them happy, it makes me happy and I feel like it is an accomplishment. One of my very first (in detail crafts)
was wedding invitations for someone in California. That was so intriguing to think I was a part of someones special moment in life way across the nation. It is very exciting each time I mail out a package to know my work is somewhere in another state, at someones house, in the presence of others being noticed and loved.

Rag Quilt

What do you do when you are not creating?  It seems I am always creating. Whether it is in thoughts or production. I can't hardly pass something without thinking "what can that be used for besides what it is". At times I think I eat, sleep, dream and live for the love of crafting. It drives my husband crazy. However; when I am not in production, I occasionally spend time watching a good movie or
reading a great book.

After swinging by Goofyloopies on etsy, you can also find her facebook page.

NCTriangle Team Members who'd like to be featured, please contact Shore Debris.