Baby Stuff!

Have you noticed the baby booties in my shop? Well, incase you have not, please check them out! They are so fun and are sure to make you want babies!



I think knitting baby booties is my favorite thing to knit. But that's not all, I will soon be adding knit headbands (for babies and adults), baby blankets, onesies, toys and flower pillows for their cute little rooms.



So keep checking in! Much more fun stuff to come. If you would like to be added to my mailing list, click the ad to the left. I will inform you of new things being added to my shop and special deals via email (only sent bi-monthly, I won't clog up your email account). Have a wonderful day!

Friday Give-Away~ AbbaDabba Bags

http://www.abbadabbabags.etsy.com/

I love this shop, as I love all the ones I feature. Monica, the shop owner, has good taste in fabric and applies that skill to her diaper bags, tote bags, wrislets, and hobo bags. She offers her desirable bags in a variety of sizes and fabric selection. Even the insides are adorable! Good job Monica! Here are a few of my favorites from her shop:

And now, a little about Monica:

1. Tell us a little about yourself.

I am a 33 year-old mother and wife. I have a 4 year-old son and a 1 year-old daughter. My husband and I are celebrating our 6th anniversary this spring and we live in the South Shore of MA (South Boston). I worked for 10 years in the financial industry before becoming a stay-at-home mom when my daughter was born.

2. How long have you been creating?

I have been sewing since I was a teenager when my mom first helped me to make some clothes. I made my first bag in 2004 when my son was born. I really wanted something different for my diaper bag and didn't like what I saw. So I bought a pattern and gave it a try. I only followed about 25% of the pattern but it was a good starting point. Shortly after my daughter was born a friend asked me to make a diaper bag for a shower gift. i did, and AbbaDabba's was born. As other people saw the bags they contacted me for more orders. I also started giving them to friends and family as gifts, which was a lot of fun. With every custom order I was able to try new fabrics, colors, shapes and sizes until I finally had developed patterns of my own.

3. How did you find Etsy and what made you decide to sell on Etsy?

Another good friend ordered one of my bags and then sent me a link to check out Etsy. I fell in love with it immediately and knew I wanted to open a shop. It took about a month of research and making inventory before I opened AbbaDabba's. Before Etsy I made each bag to order so I didn't have existing inventory. I love that Etsy allows me to set my own hours and gives me a place to send potential customers to see my work.

4. Where did you learn you creating skills?

My mom taught me to sew. She was a home-ec teacher before having kids. She is like a pattern-whisperer. She showed me that you can read through a pattern and cross out whole sections, add new steps, and really make it your own. Without that foundation I wouldn't have had the confidence to make my own creations and put them out there for people to buy.

5. What was the inspiration for your shop name?

My daughter's name is Abigail. When she was first born we called her AbbaDabba a few times. My son, then 2 1/2, picked it up and began calling her AbbaDabba all the time. Since I was making diaper bags it seemed fitting to use a name that had special meaning to my kids.

Thanks Monica, you are awesome!

And now, THE GIVE-AWAY!

This week, AbbaDabbaBags is offering this cute little wristlet!

Just post a comment to win. Mention what you like about AbbaDabba's store or maybe your favorite item. You have until Thursday at noon Mountain time to post. The winner will be announced Thursday afternoon. Good luck!!

AlisonTauber contestant WINNER!!

And the winner is:

Congratulations! Next contest starts tomorrow! Make sure to check in and see who's next!

Friday Give-Away!!

This weeks featured Etsian is:

http://www.alisontauber.etsy.com/

Alison is in the spot-light this week. Her adorable shop has shirts, pin cushions, tea towels, hostess sets (which are my favorite! great idea), paper products and journal cozies. Her style is very clean and inviting and is seen throughout her work. Be sure to check out what she has to offer.

And now, a little about Alison:

1. Tell us a little about yourself.

I live in Brooklyn, NY which is also where I'm from. I haven't always lived in Brooklyn but I have always lived in the Northeast. I can't imagine living anywhere else.

I have a BFA in textile/surface design. While I was at school printmaking and fiber art were my two favorite areas of study.

I work from home as a textile designer. I create digital artwork, mostly for apparel but some home furnishing stuff as well. The rest of my time I spend making things.

2. How long have you been creating?

I've been making things for forever! I decided to join Etsy because I liked the sense of community and it made the process of selling my work easier than starting my own website. The people who run Etsy are incredibly helpful as are all of the other members. I really like the community so much! And there are so many super talented people here, I think it's a really terrific website.

3. What do you find inspires your ideas the most?

I'm inspired by everything! It's so hard to say what inspires me most. I think it changes all the time. I love rummaging around in thrift stores and at flea markets, there are always amazing finds and great visual inspiration. I also love looking through vintage crafting books.

4. What is your most memorable creation, or one that you are most proud of?

I did a series of pillows that you can see here http://alisontauber.com/crafts.html

I love them all! I'm proud of each of them individually but also the collection as a whole.

5. Do you sell anywhere other than Etsy?

Yes. Here in Brooklyn a new flea market started up recently called Brooklyn Flea. I sell there every Sunday. Also, I do occasionally sell at the craft fairs.

And what is Alison giving away?

Your choice, either a well designed tea towel, or an adorable pin-cushion.

Post a comment to win and leave a way I can reach you incase you are the winner. Contest will close Thursday at noon Mountain time. Winner will be anounced Thursday afternoon! Good luck!

And the Winner is:

Congratulations Susan! You have won TruBlue's awesome key chain. Please email me to claim your prize!! And special thanks to TruBlue for the generosity and talent. Thanks for letting us get to know you!

To all the non-winners (I didn't want to say losers...that sounds bad), tomorrow will be another chance to take home the prize!! Stay tuned!!

Last Chance

It's your last chance to comment and win TruBlue's key chain give-away!! Contest stops Thursday at Noon Mountain Time! I will announce the winner Thursday afternoon! Good luck!

Friday Give-Away!!

This weeks featured Etsian is:

TruBlue

http://www.trublue.etsy.com/

In her shop you will find many different items with a common style integrated into them all. Vintage inspired jewelry, bottle caps made into darling magnets, pins and keychains, felted birdies, and collage prints, with a few extra items here and there. A truly talented artist with a gift for creativity. I will post a few favorites of mine in her shop. But there is much to see, so make sure and pay her shop a visit.

Here is a little about Rachael, the shop owner:

1. Tell us a little about yourself.

I am a 27 yr. old artist living in Oakland, CA. I have two main passions in life- Illustration (which I am currently attending grad school for) and crafting. The process of 'creating' is an essential part of my life and happiness, and I spend most of my free time outside of school doing it. I have very supportive friends and family (especially my wonderful boyfriend, who can feel a little neglected somtimes with all my crafting, but continues to support me whole heartedly!)
2. What inspires your creativity the most?
I think my biggest source of inspiration is Nature. But really, everything inspires me. I can't walk down the street without seeing everything from an artist's point of view. I'm always thinking to myself, "That's a nice color," or "That pattern would be perfect for this or that."

3. How long have you been creating?

I have been drawing ever since I could pick up a pencil. Early on in my life, drawing was my main artistic expression, and I was always doodling. I think I've always loved making art in all forms. However, it wasn't until I got my first apartment that I really began to explore my creativity through different endevors. I was a broke college kid (still am!) and I needed to decorate my place for cheap. I began making my own furniture and decorations, and finding old junked up items at the thrift store and fixing them up. I've been hooked ever since!

4. Do you sell anywhere other than Etsy?

Last year I had some of my work for sale in a local store here in Oakland, called Urban Indigo. But currently, I am selling exclusively on Etsy. However, as I expand my business, I'm persuing some other possibilities such as galleries and craft shows. I will keep this information updated on my shop announcement.

5. What was the inspiration for your shop name?

Blue is my favorite color. I have always loved it. It reminds me of the ocean and the sky...

AND WHAT IS THE FRIDAY GIVE-AWAY?

This marvelous key chain straight from the TruBlue!!

Post a comment to win this pretty key chain! Leave a way I can contact you if you are the winner. The winner will be announced on Thursday!

And don't forget to check out Rachael's store at http://trublue.etsy.com/

This should be fun!

Once a week my blog will be conducting the "Friday Give-Away". What does this mean you ask? Well, just this:

1. L.M. Glam will be featuring a fellow Etsy Artisan each week, being posted on Friday.

2. The featured Artisan will be providing a free give-away prize hand-made by them or a vintage item.

3. To enter to be the lucky winner, all you have to do is post a comment. On your comment leave an email address so I can contact you if you are the lucky winner!

4. If you win, you will be unable to win the next three rounds to give the other people a chance.

5. Winners will be selected at random through Random.org

6. Only one comment per person per round please.

Have fun! This will be exciting! Every Friday a different prize and a different Etsian to get to know.

Knitting...an age old art

I have always wanted to knit, even when I was a little girl. I remember my Great Grandma Freeman teaching me how to crochet when I was about 8 years old. She even gave me a lot of hooks in all different colors, which I still have. Unfortunately, I never really retained the process because of my busy life playing in the neighborhood with my friends. Therefore, the art of crocheting quickly left my memory.

However, my desire to learn to knit never really left, and I would even think about it quite often. My excuse for never learning early on is lack of time or the fear of stinking at it. All that changed when my good friend, Jill, gave me my birthday present: a gift card to Barnes and Noble.

As I was wandering through the store with my husband one night (which is a routine activity, by the way) I saw a little "teach yourself how to knit" kit. I thought to myself "Well, there is no better time than now". We had just moved out of state and due to my lack of friends and family around me I had more spare time than ever. So I bought it.

I started right when I got home. I must admit, my first knitting job was a wreck. There were holes every now and then and I was doing a basic garter stitch. That project was a loss. My second adventure was making baby booties for a friend who was about to have her first baby. I was so proud of them at the time, but looking back I now realize how hilarious they are. Not thinking, I used size 10 needles and chunky yarn. Needless to say, they were cute, but would probably fit a 4 year old. The funny thing is I gave them to her anyway! We laughed and she reassured me by letting me know that baby Henry had large feet for a baby...right.

I feel so much more confident in my knitting skills now. I have learned that patterns slow me down. I enjoy free hand a lot more. However, patterns help me to see through the eye's of the pattern creator and I learn new techniques, so I force a pattern on me every now and then.

The interesting thing about this new found hobbie is that I think it will stick with me for years. I am always finding new hobbies: jewelry making, oil painting, flower pins, calligraphy, you name it. I think I have so many hobbies because I get bored and need some change. But in the case of knitting I never find myself bored. It's like my therapy. I think it might be because the

possibilities are endless, unlike jewelry where you can only make necklaces, bracelets, etc.

My usual daily routine is going home from work, making dinner and then knitting while my husband reads or watches CNN, Man vs. Wild, Cash Cab or something rented from The Red Box (which I am a huge supporter of). Sounds a little mature for a couple 20-somethings, doesn't it? I guess it could be considered grandma-ish. My teenage cousin asked if I was 90 when she found out and I visited home a little while back and knitted while I watched TV with my 26 year old brother. He looked at me and said "You aren't actually going to do that in front of me are you?".

Point being, I don't care if it's grandma...and if it is, then I will make an awesome grandma someday. And Jill, thank you for the birthday gift. I owe my new love for knitting to you. Maybe I will knit you something special, just for you.