Brand new Ruffle Bag color...and giveaway!

It's here, the newest color for spring!

The Grass Green Ruffle Bag 

To celebrate, I'm going to give one of these beauties away to one of my followers!

The contest will run from Friday, March 14th at Noon, cst, until Wednesday March 19th at Noon, so you'll have plenty of time to enter! (and tell all of your friends,wink!)

Here is how you enter:

-It's important that you comment ON THIS POST to qualify.
-Comment below each time you fulfill any of the 6 entry requirements. The more you share, the more you help me, the MORE CHANCES YOU GET TO WIN :) Notice that #6 has a way for you to re-enter every day of the contest!

1. Follow Gathered & Sown on Facebook
2. Sign up to receive my newsletters (sign up at the bottom)
3. Follow me on Instagram
4. Follow me on Twitter
5.Follow me on Pinterest
6.Share this contest on your facebook, twitter, instagram, pinterest or blog (you can get up to 5 extra entries per day by re-sharing!)


I have so many of you to thank for the word of mouth exposure that I've received for Gathered & Sown! My little business has grown so much over the last 2 years, and I am truly grateful <3 p="">

Thank you and best of luck!
Angie

Score Your Purse for Less Than it's Worth(s) ..hehe

Lots of people have been asking me about this big sale I'm launching this Thursday, so for those who don't know, here's how it's going to go :)

This Thursday, January 12 at 9 am, I will be posting a link on my Facebook page. The link will be for  one item in my Etsy shop with a one time use discount code attached to it. That code will be for a substantial discount, ranging from 20 up to 50%! 

The first person to use the code gets it. Once the code is used, the item is no longer on sale. So you have to be quick!

Wristlets
 ($20 regular price)

Bible Covers
($18 regular price)

 I will be posting items and codes at random times of the day and evening through Saturday. (Hours WILL REMAIN between 9 am and 8 pm central time) I will try to give a little warning of the time of the next offer, but won't reveal the item until I post it. I have to keep some element of surprise, right??

Ruffle Bags
($45 or $50 regular price)

I am not trying to clearance my inventory, so these will be items that are new, popular and currently in my shop! So if you were eyeballing anything, now would be the time to follow me on Facebook....hint,hint!

Kids Crayon Bags
($18 regular price)

If you are not on facebook, ask a friend to watch for the codes for you. Facebook is where they will be revealed, so while you don't have to be following Gathered &Sown on FB, it will definitely give you an advantage.

I welcome and appreciate your questions. Please post them in the comments below. I will answer them here to keep all the info in one place.

Finally, to make this sale a success, I need your help! Please pass this on to anyone who might like to be a part of it. Your word of mouth referrals are priceless to me!


So what items are you watching for? I'm trying to decide what to offer first :)



Are you ready??? I know I am!

*New Bible Covers

A request was made after seeing my crayon bags for a "big girl" version to cover her bible. Duh! Why didn't I think of that sooner?!?! So I made one today and was so tickled with how it turned out. My own bible feels so...naked now :)

I will be adding these to my website, on a made to order basis. If you  are interested, please email me at  { contact at gathered-sown dot com } Subject: bible covers. Cost for a cover made to fit your  personal bible measurements is $18-$25, depending on the size.

Meet My Boss...ME :)

Now that we've gotten back into the swing of another school year, I am looking forward to FINALLY getting back into a regular work schedule . Work schedule??  Many ask why I have one when I work from home. Don't I sit around all day eating bon-bons and watching soap operas??? (ok, I do, but don't tell anyone!)

I think my "friends" in Salem would agree with my bon-Bon choice. He-he!
[ source]

Finding the motivation to work for yourself can be difficult at times, but here are a  few things that work for me:

Work hard, but also remember your REAL job, your family.

Most people think that since I work from home, I have a lot of "free" time.  I have had to learn to tell people that I am working. I have set myself regular work hours, and I try to schedule appointments, and even fun things around my work schedule. In that schedule, I allow myself one hour in the morning, after my daughters are off to school to get my house in order. (I hate coming up after working all day to a crazy, messy house!) I usually work until my kids get home. I also try really hard to adhere to "off" hours. When my whole family is home, I limit my computer time, my sewing time, even my phone time. I try to be as available to my family as I can. This allows me a balance of being Gathered and Sown by day, Mom and wife by night.

This, doesn't become...

...this, without a little discipline.

Acknowledge that your business is your job.
When you work from home, it is very easy to get sidetracked. I get those tempting "wanna go shopping" or "come on, you can work later calls" from well meaning friends. I also tend to get recognized as "that girl who is always home" who gets frequent calls  babysit/drive carpool/volunteer at EVERYTHING.  You have to learn to tell people that you are working. Then they naturally begin to realize that you are not sitting around eating bon bons and watching soaps all day long :)  

I have learned that while I want to be everywhere for everyone, if I don't work, the work doesn't get done.  Which brings me to point two...

Set your schedule

[source: http://jengrantmorris.blogspot.com]

I love what I do but I don't want to have my business be my entire life! I know when my standing commitments are, so I made myself a work schedule that is consistent from week to week. I know that I work best when I am home alone, so weekday mornings, when Ryan is at work, and the girls are at school, I WORK, WORK, WORK!  I am terribly unproductive on weekends, so I count those as my days off. If I so happen to feel like getting some work done while the family is busy, it turns out to be bonus time, which is always low pressure and relaxing.

Divide your time wisely

Over the last 4 months or so, I have realized the huge potential of marketing my business online. What I didn't expect was the insane amount of HOURS I would have to spend in front of my computer. That could be a problem, since my whole business is based on the bags that I create! I have learned to schedule a period of time to do my computer work. When that time is up, I have to turn it off until another scheduled time. That means I have to exercise an insane amount of self control. It is so tempting to just "check" my email or my blog stats... what I intend to be a minute will ALWAYS turn into 15 or 20. I've also started a list things I want to look up. That way, I can factor the web surfing in my computer time, and not allow it to take over my production time.

Here is the computer where I am sitting right now,
typing this post.
 I wish I were in the picture, so it could be like one of those
super cool infinity mirrors :D

Remember to LOVE what you do

When you are your own boss, if you don't feel passionate about what you are doing, it will be evident in your work. So let yourself have some fun! Take a few hours off to make a cool craft for your work space. Have a good friend over to chat while you  while you work. Take an afternoon to check out the competition and get inspired. Whatever it takes to keep you sharp, focused and in love with your job.  After all, isn't that what makes us "self employed geniuses " go to work each and every day?

[source: work is not a job via ashappyaskings]

Wanna Free Ruffle Bag???

The contest is still active until Friday, September 16th at 3 pm, so go here and read the instructions to win the bag pictured below :)

See me??? I'd be cute on your shoulder :)

My ruffles are so pretty...

I will get you lots of oohs and ahhs...

And don't forget you also get a $15 credit to pick accessories at Beautiful Bits of Grace!

What are you waiting for??? Enter here, and good luck!

New in my shop :) (and some soon to come!!)

I may have been kind of quiet lately in blog land, but I have been busy! Here are some of my latest additions to my Ruffle Purse family :D

In this batch of bags, I'm letting the fabric make a quiet statement. No loud patterns, just subtle, beautiful colors, accented by flirty, fun ruffles. If you see an orange one in Sheboygan, that's me! 

I made one for myself :)

This avocado green is my FAVORITE color for fall!

Another feature...happy dance!

I love to hear what other people would do with my bags, so I was thrilled to read this article :) While I was checking out Bonnie's blog, I was slowed down by her beautiful photography. She was doing a 365 day project of photographs, and they are truly remarkable! I picked one below to share. It reminded me to slow down and enjoy these last few, precious days of summer...

A few new bags I'd like to show off :)

I just finished listing a few new bags I made in my etsy shop. I love coming up with new styles, and this one came to me one afternoon 2 weeks ago when I was bored. I love it when that happens!

Today I got caught up on orders. It is raining a much needed rain here, so I am in comfy pants, and am working on another brand new design. One hint: It is really ruffle-ey! Now I only hope it works so I don't look like a liar. Off I go, I'll show pics when I crawl out from under all the ruffles :)

Why I Treat Every Order Like It's A Gift

I have to admit that everytime I turn on my computer and see those glorious words "Etsy Transaction" I get very giddy inside. (And outside, I always yell to the hubs, or call my bff!) As a tiny business owner there is something so special about knowing that someone, someone who doesn't even know me, likes what I am doing. Likes it enough to invest their hard earned money in order to have it in their hands. And that speaks VOLUMES to me. I acknowledge every day how much God has blessed me both personally and in my business. I acknowledge every day this gift He's given me, to be able to provide for my family, doing what I LOVE, while still being home to be present with my girls. And I don't ever want to take that for granted.

So this is why I treat every order as if it's a gift. I want my buyer to get their package in their hands, with a sense that they are about to open something special. Even if someone comes to my studio to buy a bag, I always wrap it and box it with my signature style. Yes, they know what's in the box, but I just know that I'd be excited to peel back the layers when I got home, revealing the splurge that I've been waiting for.

When I mail out online orders, I always handwrite the envelope. You know that feeling when you go to the mailbox and see a handwritten card? I love that!

 

I got this picture sent to me on facebook from an awesome customer that said:
 "Hey everybody...look what I got in the mail today"!
I loved knowing her reaction, it was a gift in and of itself :)

I want my buyers to know that I took the time to personally wrap and deliver their new "gift". I also use the same tissue paper/sticker combo that I use on my "in person" pickups, to keep my packaging consistant. I feel like that little pop of color and personality gives the person a little preview of what they are about to unwrap! And with every mail order goes a handwritten thank you card. How can I let people know that I appreciate their business if I don't take the time to tell them? So I do :)

I really feel like the little details can go along way towards showing my gratitude. And I am more than grateful to wake up each new day and getting to see my little venture unfold. Who knows? Maybe I'll see a new "Etsy Transaction". Fingers crossed... :)

My Newest Bag Design :)

Yesterday I caught the design bug. So I got my room in order, found a movie for the kiddos and went to work. I love the whole design process, from picking a fabric to holding the finished bag in my hands. The further I get, and as I see a brand new design come together, it just keeps getting better and better.

I grabbed an arm at Chloe's softball game to model for me. Thanks,Audi :)
 I was not allowed full body or face shots,lol!

I made huge double pockets on the front, which are detailed with a cute little finger pleated ruffle.

The bag is 4 inches deep, so it has a TON of space inside.

I wanted handles that were more than just utilitarian....but cute! So I added the rings :)

I was in a yellow mood, so I used a cute vintage yellow fabric with a new, buttery yellow plaid.
The trim is chocolate brown.  Can anyone guess what my favorite color is??? Hehe!


I have to price this bag yet, but my best guess is $45.  I have fabric laid out to make about 6 or so more, in different colors/patterns, so I should get some on etsy soon.  I even have some prints/combinations that I haven't used before, so be on the look out!
Hint: One contains an animal print. I am NOT an animal print fan, but this one is too much fun! I had to do it.

A few things I feel the urge to buy...

                              [Pumpkin Cheesecake Room Spray...can you say YUM?"]

I have realized that a casualty of my job is that I am always finding things that other people make that I feel like I NEED! Here are a few of the things that I've come across... I linked them to their etsy pages, in case you are tempted too :) Enjoy!

To have a cozy for something that makes me feel, well, cozy, is a must."]
Now I can have tea parties :)"][


If I had an apron that made me look this cute and happy, I'd bake every day!
If my clothes smelled like pears, I'd be a happy girl"
[

One of my favorite things

[gallery]

I I am always on the hunt for fun,unique items that make me smile every time I look at them.
Imagine my glee when I discovered wallets that were handmade and whose prints and designs make my heart skip a beat!


After checking out her sites, top to bottom I fell in love!  *innad* became my gift of choice, with my friend and mother in law both recieving one for christmas. And, much to my joy, Danni sent me one as MY christmas gift. Anyone jealous?!?! I asked Danni if she would mind if I "shared" her with my Gathered & Sown fans, and she happily agreed! So here is what I learned about the girl behind the genious....

       +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Danni has a bachelors degree in textile design from uw-madison. She's been a tailor for over 4 years, and sewing since the 6th grade. She says: "I find my inspiration in Frank Lloyd Wright, Bauhaus, Sanna Annukka, Sam Chivers, anything from Sweden, the 60's and 70's, the list goes on.  Basically anything with clean lines and rounded corners I will like.  Monochromatic color schemes are my best friend!




What is your favorite design?
"I get most excited about pattern.  I see it everywhere.  I especially like patterns that require some sort of cleverness in how it's put together, like tessellations.  (Have you ever seen the carpets in the hotel in the Shining?  AWESOME.) "




What is your favorite tool?
"I don't have a favorite tool because they are all my favorite. What I'm most obsessed with at the present time is my stack paper cutter.  I got it for Christmas and it can slice through a 1/2 inch of paper without hesitation.  It's a nerd thing.  Next item on my list is a corner rounder of the same caliber."




What is " *innad*"?
"*innad* wallets started for me when I couldn't find a wallet that would fit in my back pocket without giving me scoliosis.  So I started making my own.  I don't carry a purse because it's too much of a hassle, so I carry everything in my pockets.  Everything I need fits in the wallet, and it's flat so even though iI sit on it for hours every day, I never notice it's there.  And it looks cool, so it can't be beat!  A lot of people suggest to me "Oh, you should make a wallet with a bunch of dividers and a coin pocket and this and that", but that's not what *innad* is about.  It's about a quick, convenient, simple, great looking wallet.  I used to live by the mantra "fashion over function", but once I got sick of being inconvenienced by bad design, I started making things that were more logical.  *innad* it's a mix of both -fashion and function in perfect harmony.




Visit *innad* on Facebook and sign up for the newsletter to

get a 20% coupon for your first purchase!

To get your hands on your own *innad* wallet visit Danni's Etsy shop at www.innad.etsy.com.
To view her personal portfolio visit www.dannitrester.com.

Danni, (in one of her FAB scarves!!!)
the beauty behind *innad*