Blogaversary Bash Day 4

Wow! It’s been an amazing week so far, don’t you think?! I’m so beyond grateful and excited for all the awesome people who are helping me celebrate.

Today I have some more awesomeness lined up for you.

Eisley Rae Clothing

is giving away a Tooth Fairy Pillow from her brand new Home Decor line.

Tell Me a little bit about your shop and blog.
Hi, my name is Alyson and I’m the designer behind Eisley Rae Clothing. Happy 2 year Blogiversary to Alissa! At one point I had 2 blogs, one for the business and one for my family. It was too much work and so I’ve combined the two. I love being able to blog about my family, my creativity, things I love, things I do and my business! There are some exciting new changes coming to the Eisley Rae blog in the VERY new future, so be sure to check back soon!

Tell us a little about your shop.
Eisley Rae is a combination of my love for shopping, my love for creating and combining the two together to make gorgeous little things for my daughter. It all started with that… making dresses and skirts for my little girl and others asking me to make things for their little girls. After a difficult summer for our family, my husband and I sat down and decided that I needed something to do for ME, something that was mine. Not that being a stay at home mom to two little ones isn’t enough, but I wanted something that was all mine. Eisley Rae has been a wonderful outlet for me.

Just recently I’ve also added new home decor & accessories to the shop and there will be many more new goodies very soon!

How do you balance life and your blog and shop?
I try to stick to a fairly strict schedule. Of course, things get a little wonky during the summer when my daughter is home from school everyday, so my little man and I have to adjust to that change. The first hour or so of my morning usually consists of checking emails, responding to comments on the blog, making sure that any blog posts are up, checking twitter, facebook and just generally making sure things are in order for the day. I’ll print out shipping slips for any orders I’m working on that day AND make sure to get some cuddle time in with my kids. The rest of my day is mostly spent with my kids, with some downtime for them which means sewing/working time for me. I do most of my blogging at night and preparing for the following day.

What do you love most about summertime?
I LOVE that I get to spend tons of time with both of my kids at home. We’re lucky that my mom has a swimming pool, because it gets HOT here (like.. 107-110)! So, swimming is one of our favorite things to do. We also love being outside in the evenings, all of the fresh seasonal fruit, playing with chalk, relaxing mornings and afternoons.. and play dates!

Any advice for someone wanting to open their own shop?
Start slow! It can be overwhelming or even disappointing. When I first started, I had weeks (and months) where I’d sell a bunch of stuff and then weeks (and months) where it’d be really slow and I’d hardly sell anything. I’m just now getting to the point of not worrying about it and letting go. If things sell, they sell.. I make them because I love to and not because of the money (but obviously having a little extra money doesn’t hurt!). Definitely put the time and effort into quality! People are much more likely to be a return customer if the quality & customer service are above & beyond! Communication is HUGE and I try my very best to keep constant, open contact with my customers. Lastly, use Twitter and Facebook.. milk them for all their worth! Both have been a WONDERFUL tool for me and I think that many others in the handmade community would agree! Plus, getting to know all of the other ladies has been awesome and I’ve made lifelong friends!

Where can we find you?
I blog here. You can shop here. Tweet with me here. Find me on Facebook, here. And find me on Pinterest, here!

Ragamuffin Beauties

is giving away a $15 Shop Credit.

Tell us a little bit about yourself and your shop. 
I’ve been married to my High School sweetheart, Randy for 11 years. We have two children Caleb and Isabella, whom I homeschool. We live in Central Texas, in the same neighborhood we grew up in next door to his Mom and Step Dad and a few streets over from my parents. It’s a happy little life!

I started my shop as an outlet to fund all the projects I bookmark in blogland. I taught myself how to sew and pretty much have a figure it out myself kind of personality…which makes for several attempts at various projects. My favorite thing to do as I sew is to pray for the recipient…even if it isn’t someone I know.

My shop is named Ragamuffin Beauties. Growing up one of eight kids it was quite the feat to coral all of us for an outing. My Momma would give us quick instruction on our dress and hygiene reminding us not to be ragamuffins. In choosing a name I wanted to reflect my heart to serve God through my creations. Each one having a story much like us…beauty from ashes. While that can be a little bit of a stretch if the fabric is beautiful to begin with, it’s only in it’s finished product is it truly beautiful.

How do you balance life with your shop and blog?
What is balance? Honestly, I struggle in this area desperately. It’s hard for me to switch gears, so typically I’m really on or really off. I just keep my shop up in running with the hopes that same day that balance will find a new home nestled in amongst the comings and goings of my many hats.

What’s your favorite part about summer?
My babes! I have a Summer baby and an early Fall baby, so we love the anticipation of celebrating their special days! I also love the reason to slow down and enjoy the fun that comes with Summer…family time, BBQ, swimming….I could go on and on. I will say living in Texas summers are getting more and more brutal…this heat is well, hot!

Any advice for someone wanting to open their own shop?
My best advice is go for it! You will never know success if you don’t give it a shot. I’m a big believer on working with what you got, be it an old sewing machine, hand me down materials to birth new life, local verses online vendors for supplies…don’t measure yourself against those big successful shops because truth be told they started somewhere to. And ask questions, maybe I’m just super lucky, but everyone I have met in this amazing handmade community has been willing to help and give advice. And lastly, don’t give up! Every time I want to throw in the towel I get complimented on something from my shop or get an order. Make your own definition of success and always make sure you love what you are doing!

Where can we find you?
Blog: www.carlisleclanconversation.com
Twitter: http://twitter.com/#!/jennilynncar
Etsy: http://www.etsy.com/shop/ragamuffinbeauties
Etsy FB: http://www.facebook.com/RagamuffinBeauties
Etsy Email: ragamuffinbeauties@hotmail.com
Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/jennilynncar/

Fairly Fabulous

a Rainbow Rossette Picture Frame.

Tell Me a little bit about your shop and blog.
I’m a former stay at home mama of 2 little girls, relocated to the southern California desert for hubby’s job, now using my marketing skills and creativity to help grow and decorate my daughters’ Preschool! Whew-and super great at using incorrect punctuation and run on sentences to blog our lives over at www.fairlyfabulousblog.com

How do you balance life and your blog and shop?
HaHa. Balance? What is that? You mean it’s possible to do it all and still have clean clothes, empty hampers, and dinner on the table before midnight? Someone teach me to be Supermom!

What do you love most about summertime?
Homemade popsicles, hours playing in the sprinklers, and visits from Gramm and Pop!

Any advice for someone wanting to open their own shop?
Do it! You will never be successful until you open those virtual doors. Make what you love, love what you make and have faith in yourself. If you don’t believe in yourself, how will your customers believe in you?

Where can we find you?
I blog at www.fairlyfabulousblog.com. Tweet @fairlyfabulous1. Sell my tiny bits of fabulousness at www.etsy.com/shop/fairlyfabulous and FINALLY created my facebook page www.facebook.com/fairlyfabulous

Are you ready to win some awesomeness from these ladies?! 

1 amazing reader will win ALL of these prizes!

Here’s how to Enter:

– Follow my blog Rags to Stitches Boutique (Mandatory)

– Follow @ragstostitches on Twitter

– Become a fan on Facebook
– Tweet about this giveaway. Be sure to use @ragstostitches in your tweet.

Extra Entries:

– Become a follower of Eisley Rae Clothing through GFC

– Follow @eisleyrae on Twitter

– Become a fan of Eisley Rae Clothing on Facebook.

– Become a follower of The Carlistle Conversation through GFC

– Follow @jennilynncar on Twitter

– Become a fan of Ragamuffin Beauties on Facebook

– Become a Follower of Fairly Fabulous through GFC

– Follow @fairlyfabulous1 on Twitter

– Become a fan of Fairly Fabulous on Facebook

Please leave a separate comment for each entry.

This giveaway is open to all US Residents and will close on Monday, July 18th at Midnight PST.