Pulp Petals | Featured Shop of the Week

This weeks featured shop of the week is Pulp Petals. We chat to Rachael about her product, processes & what she loves about her shop.

Tell us a little bit about yourself

Hello, I’m Rachael. I live in Adelaide with my Husband (and soul mate) Michael, our two little ones Edith and Angus, and our very crazy cat, a Devon Rex named Basil.

Meet Rachael - the talent behind Pulp Petals

What made you want to start Pulp Petals

I originally set out to make petals for myself and as a thank you gift for a dear friend of mine. My family and friends loved them so much that I found myself making 'petals' for them all, and thus Pulp Petals blossomed! My shop has been a way for me create, learn and grow whilst spending time at home with my young children.

Where did the idea for the name Pulp Petals come from

I wanted the name of my shop to be simple and reflect what I do.  I played around with a few ideas until I chose pulp (which you can make paper from) and then pieced it together with petals to create the name Pulp Petals.

Tell us about the products you sell and your processes

My aim is to create beautiful flowers to enhance life, home, and celebrations. The best bit? Their versatility. They can add a bit of fun to a little girl’s bedroom/party, or can create a unique style for an event.

The flowers make a fantastic gift for a birthday, thank you, thinking of you, or maybe just because. They can also be used for all manner of occasions! Weddings, parties, bridal showers, baby showers, events or functions. 

They also look amazing around home, on a mantle, hall table, in a bedroom or nursery.

Real flowers only last for a small amount of time. These flowers, with the right care, will last for years to come.

I take great care with each and every flower. They are all hand-cut, rolled and glued by me. I like that each one is different in its own way, and putting different colours together gives them a personality of their own.

What is the most useful piece of advice you have been given in regards to Pulp Petals

The most useful advice would been that you need to have great photos & to always respond to customers enquires as soon as possible.  A potential customer needs to be able to see your products in their best possible light, given they cannot see the item in person. Your photos are the first glance someone sees and you want that look to be professional.  Also, none of this comes without a lot of hard work, trial & error.

What do you love most about Pulp Petals

I love my shop. I think it is mostly because I know every photo and word has been created by me. It represents everything I have learnt in the past two years (and, possibly still have to learn). Every sale is so wonderful and there is a wonderful story behind every purchase. 

Tell us where we can find out more about you and Pulp Petals

You can find me here:

Etsy: www.etsy.com/au/shop/PulpPetals
Facebook: www.facebook.com/PulpPetals

Instagram: @pulppetals

xx

Previous Featured Shops

Little Miss Lorraine

Pea Green Sea

Two Cheeky Monkeys

Made by Joni

Jentik Manis
The Swatchmaker

If you would like your shop to be featured on A Little Bit of Jess, flick me an email me at alittlebitofjess04@gmail.com and I will be in contact with you!

 

New Beginnings | Life Update

New house. Engagement party (not ours!). Holidays looming. It has been a crazy couple of weeks! It is really easy to get caught up in the busyness of it all and it can get quite overwhelming. 

There really is something special about new beginnings. In this case, buying our first home together and moving in this week which we are so excited about! We purchased a cute little renovator, so I will be posting room updates and DIY projects as we complete them. My little sister also had her engagement party on the weekend (I have a post on this coming up this week) so it was great to not only celebrate her engagement, but catch up with family we do not see very often!

With holidays coming up, I am looking forward to being able to spend some time getting back into a routine with the blog and also creating some new things for Little Miss Lorraine!

xx

 

Two Cheeky Monkeys | Featured Shop of the Week

After some great feedback from our last weeks Featured Shop of the Week, today I would like to introduce you to Deb from Two Cheeky Monkeys! 

Tell us a little bit about yourself

I am a self-taught jewellery maker who grew up in suburban Melbourne.  Although many people are surprised to discover that I have a background in Genetics and Molecular Biology (I worked as a research scientist pre-kids), I grew up with creative parents who encouraged both my academic and creative sides.  My mum especially shaped my creative side, teaching me to embroider, sew, knit and crochet when I was young.

Meet Deb from Two Cheeky Monkeys!

What made you want to start Two Cheeky Monkeys

After starting a family, I found that the rigours of the scientific world made it almost impossible for family-oriented people to find flexible and family-friendly jobs. So, to keep myself entertained while I continued my rather miserable job hunting, I returned to my "creative" side and started making jewellery and other handmade gifts for my friends and loved ones. Many of my friends and family members started encouraging me to sell my creations, and with the added encouragement of my husband, Two Cheeky Monkeys was born.

Where did the idea for the name Two Cheeky Monkeys come from
My husband and I thought it would be sweet to name my shop after our two children, since they were one of the main reasons I opened up shop!  And since our kids are super cute but super cheeky too, I settled on the name Two Cheeky Monkeys.

Tell us about the products you sell and your processes

I predominantly sell vintage-inspired jewellery and accessories for women, with a small range of items each for children and men.  I have three main jewellery ranges: the Literature range which features snippets of old books set into jewellery or accessories, the Glam It Up range which is all about jewellery made with gorgeous vintage glass jewels and stones, and also the Cabochon range which encompasses my pieces made with vintage and contemporary floral cabochons, a favourite of those who want a more feminine look.

The Literature range is probably the most time-consuming to create due to the fact that I search for battered old copies of famous novels and flick through the pages to find suitable character names for my creations.  Sometimes I also get caught up in re-reading whichever novel I'm working with, an occupational hazard, ha ha ha!

What is the most useful piece of advice you have been given in regards to Two Cheeky Monkeys

I am quite eclectic in my tastes so I would say that the best advice I've been given is to try and unify my store's look by using a similar style of photography for every item.  It is very tempting for me to use a wide range of backgrounds and styling looks, so "unifying" the look of my store is a constant work in progress, but definitely a much needed reminder not to confuse my customers!

What do you love most about Two Cheeky Monkeys
I love that my creations are enjoyed by a wide range of people from little girls who want to "dress up like mummy" with my children's range, to bridal parties and to customers buying an item to spoil themselves or a loved one.  I really love that there's something for everyone who loves vintage-styled pieces.

Tell us where we can find out more about you and Two Cheeky Monkeys

You can find me here:
Etsy: etsy.com/au/shop/dspdavey
Facebook: facebook.com/TwoCheekyMonkeysJewellery
Made It: madeit.com.au/TwoCheekyMonkeys
Blog: twocheekymonkeysdesigns.blogspot.com

Previous Featured Shops
Little Miss Lorraine
Pea Green Sea

If you would like your shop to be featured on A Little Bit of Jess, flick me an email me at alittlebitofjess04@gmail.com and I will be in contact with you!

 

         

Please click here to see my disclaimer policy.

Like what you see? Why not subscribe to my weekly update emails here.

Pea Green Sea | Featured Shop of the Week

Welcome to the first official Featured shop of the week. This week I would like to introduce you to Susan from Pea Green Sea. Susan has been a great help to me in settling into the Etsy Australia community so I was delighted to receive an email response from her about being featured on A Little Bit of Jess.

Tell us a little bit about yourself

Hi, I am Susan. I was raised in the small country town of Gunnedah, in North Western NSW, where crafting was a big part of our lives. Other than working overtime as a mum and wife, I also work as a part-time Podiatrist as well as the owner of a small handmade business called Pea Green Sea. So I fix up ingrown toenails by day, and turn beautiful vintage silk sarees into scarves by night. Quite the unusual combination.

The gorgeous Susan from Pea Green Sea

What made you want to start Pea Green Sea

I started my shop as a bit of a personal challenge. I have been crafty all my life, and I particularly love to sew. I take after my lovely Mum who is a chronic crafter and taught me to sew. I guess I wanted to see if I could earn some income from home, by doing something that I love to do.

Where did the idea for the name Pea Green Sea come from

The name" Pea Green Sea" was inspired by the poem "The Owl and the Pussy cat". This is one of my favourites and I love the whimsical atmosphere and the imagery it creates. I also wanted a business name to stand out and be recognised which can be a problem on such a large platform such as Etsy. If I ever open a homeware shop, it will be called "The Runcible Spoon".

Tell us about the products you sell and your processes

I primarily make and sell infinity scarves using the fabric from vintage silk recycled sarees which I source from a variety of suppliers in India. I like the design of the infinity scarf...no loose ends!  The silk is very light weight, so the scarves are easy and comfortable to wear in any season, and they look amazing anyone. They can also be worn equally with a casual day outfit, or as a unique addition to elegant after 5 evening wear. They also make great gifts to send to family and friends as they are light and easy to post.

What is the most useful piece of advice you have been given in regards to Pea Green Sea

The most useful tip I have been given about my shop is provide exemplary customer service. I ensure that all inquiries are personally attended to promptly, and I go to lengths to make sure my customers know I greatly appreciated their business. I have found that providing excellent service has resulted in many return customers.

What do you love most about Pea Green Sea

I love my shop because it allows me to have a  creative outlet, and provides some much needed balance in my life. I get enormous joy when someone chooses to purchase one of my scarves. You can be sure I am doing a little happy dance whenever I see an new order pop up.

Tell us where we can find out more about you and Pea Green Sea

You can find me here:

Etsy: etsy.com/au/shop/PeaGreenSea

Facebook: facebook.com/PeaGreenSea 

Instagram: @pea_green_sea

Previous Featured Shops
Little Miss Lorraine

If you would like your shop to be featured on A Little Bit of Jess, flick me an email me at alittlebitofjess04@gmail.com and I will be in contact with you!

xx

 

Little Miss Lorraine | Featured Shop of the Week

As of next week I will be starting an exciting new series on the blog showcasing the amazing local Australian talent of handmade and vintage shop owners. These small businesses can often be looked over for cheaper, more commercial goods. From experience, the quality of the goods and the customer service you receive from these small businesses far exceeds that of the larger department stores.

Each Wednesday I will be showcasing a new shop for you on the blog. I encourage you to read their stories and have a look at what they are offering. Support your local!

To start off the series, I thought I would let you in behind the scenes of my own Etsy store, Little Miss Lorraine.

Tell us a little bit about yourself
Hi there my name is Jess! I am a 20 something lover of beauty, craft, interior design & DIY. I am also a keen but by no means experienced Yogi. I have a wonderfully supportive boyfriend and together we live with our beautiful (and noisy!!) rainbow lorikeet Opal.

What made you want to start your shop
I love the satisfaction that comes from making your own things. I also love making things for other people which is why I started Little Miss Lorraine! A little hobby of mine to share some of my makes with other people.

Where did the idea for the name of your shop come from
My shop name "Little Miss Lorraine" is based on...me! I am only 5"1 and often get referred to (not by choice!) as "little Jess".  I am a Miss (for now!) and Lorraine is my middle name which I share with one of my Grandmothers.

Tell us about the products you sell and your processes
Little Miss Lorraine is a combination of vintage wares, handmade home decor and paper goods. Our vintage wares are in very good condition and have been sourced from loving homes. All of our sewn goods are sewn on my Grandmothers sewing machine, something she handed down to me before moving into a retirement village. Every single card and gift tag is handmade and a lot of thought goes into the final product.

A look behind the scenes!

What is the most useful piece of advice you have been given in regards to your shop
Don't let your shop get too much for you! If you become too stressed out over the amount of sales you have, filling your shop with stock and dealing with customer enquiries, you will end up resenting the very thing you love doing! 

What do you love most about your shop
I love the connections and opportunities my shop has opened for me. Connecting with other Australian Etsy & small business shop owners has been such a great learning experience, and I will definitely be continuing these relationships as time goes on. 

Tell us where we can find out more about you & your shop
You can find Little Miss Lorraine here:

Etsy: etsy.com/au/shop/littlemisslorraine
Facebook: facebook.com/littlemisslorraine
Instagram: @littlemisslorraine

xx

Indoor Plants | Lifestyle

I recently read this blog post by Helen from Recycled Interiors about the trend towards having plants indoors and why they are good for your overall wellbeing.

Plants are great for your health for a number of reasons. They take the carbon dioxide from the air and through the process of photosynthesis, they turn it into oxygen which they then release back into the air. This increases the oxygen levels in the room, and increases the levels of oxygen we breathe in. Studies have also shown plants have other benefits such as fighting colds, improving our moods and making us think better.

I think indoor plants really do add that extra something to your home. As such...

I would love to introduce my new range of fabric planters which will soon be available in my Etsy shop Little Miss Lorraine. These fabric planters are perfect for dressing up otherwise boring indoor plant pots. They will be available in a number of different patterns and sizes so keep an eye out for them this week!

What are your thoughts on plants indoors? Do you have indoor plants - if you do, have you noticed any difference in your health / wellbeing?

xx

 

Christmas Gift Guide | 2014

1 // 2 // 3 // 4 // 5 // 6

Can you believe how close we are to Christmas! This year has flown by. Most people are in the midst of their Christmas shopping, so I thought I would share with you my top picks from my Etsy store Little Miss Lorraine. A lot of these products can be used right throughout the year - not just for Christmas!!

Make sure you are following Little Miss Lorraine on Facebook and Instagram to hear about new products first!

xx

 

Bowerbird Bazaar | Adelaide's Design Market

I had another sucessful trip to the Bowerbird Bazaar a few weekends ago with Michelle from Coco and the Girls (you can read my post about last years here.) There are so many great stalls and a lot of local talent. Here is a look at what I ended up purchasing.

DEAR MABEL
Necklace - $35

I was instantly drawn in by the beautiful colours of the items at this stall and ended up buying this beautiful necklace. Lisa and Kylie are two sisters based in Adelaide who made beautiful clay pieces for themselves and family/friends before deciding to sell to the public. Their pieces are just that little bit extra special and will add some colour and individuality to an outfit.

You can shop their gorgeous pieces here.

TRUSO
Scarf / Shawl - $40.00ish

There were a few things that I really liked about this accessory. The pattern is gorgeous and can be worn with numerous colours since it is black and white. Also, the versatility of it is so handy. It can be worn as a scarf or shawl and is also reversible! The cute bobbles at the end of each side were also a big draw card.

KUTO
Jumpers - $65 each

I am officially in love with this label - and to think we nearly missed the stall! We were on our way out when we walked past and were drawn in by the beautiful, soft knits. They have a "one size" theory which actually works amazingly well. The owner told us that they try to design the pieces so that they work for women of all different shapes and sizes. I really loved the quality of the knit and compared to a few other stalls we had been to, their prices were very reasonable.

I had to try this jumper on three times before I was fully convinced I liked it. As you may know from other posts, I am not a huge fan of "baggy" items on me because I am smaller, but I am so glad I purchased this jumper. I love the way it hangs, the colour and the cute cuffs at the end of the sleeves.

I had already purchased the jumper above when I saw this one on the racks. I love the way it fits (a bit more snug than the other one) and the colour is gorgeous. I could have spent a lot more money here, and will be on the look out for them from now on.

COLOURED PEARS

"Mum" Image - $5.00

My sister and I wanted to get Mum a little something extra for Mother's Day and I was very happy when I found this print. For $5 it was a bargain! They are made to fit into the Ikea Ribba frames.

Coloured Pears have a range of art, vintage items, gifts and homewares. Some of their abstract prints are gorgeous - I might have to look into purchasing one or two!

You can browse through their items here.

All in all it was a very successful trip. There are so many fantastic stalls with great items available. My tip is to have a look around at what is on offer before you go ahead and purchase anything.

Did you make it to the Bowerbird Bazaar? What did you think?

- J x

Please click here to see my disclaimer policy.
facebook // twitter // pinterest // ravelry // bloglovin' // etsy