Let's Get this Party Started! AND Featured Artist... (Ok, it's me... but I wanted to tell my story too)

Image Courtesy: The Felted Kitten

I was thinking about how we could get this blog a little more exposure, since I'm going to really work at it now.  So, I thought we should play a game:  You get a point for doing each of the things listed below and putting the links to show it in your comment to this post, up to a total of 10 Points... Winner gets a free item of their choice from my shop.

    1) Follow this blog if you aren't already doing so, one point to you if you are already
    2) Blog, Tweet, Facebook or use other social   media to spread the word about this giveaway with a link to this post...
     3) Add my badge to your blog or other website
     4) 'Like' my Facebook page and post a comment there with the name of your favorite item currently in my shop
      5) 'Follow' me on Twitter and post a comment there with a link to your favorite item currently in my shop

Just like in school, you have to show your work... So don't forget to comment on this post with the links to what you did.  Whoever has the most points by Midnight PST on Friday, July 15th wins.  If there is a tie, the winner will be chosen by Random.org.

Good Luck!

Image Courtesy: Love in Bloom Boutique

Hey, so here is the interview I did with myself.  Maybe it's a little schitzo... but oh well!  Mostly, I wanted to tell a little of my story and give people something to check out while they are thinking they may want to be featured on this blog.

     What do you make and what was/is the inspiration for your shop?  I make boutique style hair bows and ribbon flowers and am dabbling in other areas soon (I hope) to be introduced to Love in Bloom Boutique.  I started making accessories, because I had a hard time finding things that weren’t too grown-up or filled with too many other colors to go with my daughter’s school uniforms. I have since ventured into many other colors and love making sweet adornments for girls of all ages.

Tell us how your creativity has woven itself into your life’s journey to make you what you are today. (What instances helped give you the confidence/motivation to pursue this as a career?)  I have always loved playing with color in it’s various forms, from art projects to clothing and makeup choices to light… I love playing with it!  I always wanted to do something creative but just didn't pursue it for lots of reasons.  Anyway, I kept trying to figure out what creative thing I could do for the first five years I was a stay at home mom and finally happened upon this.  I kept getting compliments on what I was making, so I started a little business and here I am.

What is your vision for the future of your business?  Right now I’m just trying to make it through the stage of life where all of my kids aren’t in school yet, so for the short term I’d like to make a couple more good wholesale contacts do a few small shows, and pick up my sales on Etsy and I’d like to branch out by making more types of items (because I like to mix things up a bit). In the more distant future, I'd also one day open up a brick and mortar shop with all kinds of wonderful handmade items.

Tell us about your typical day.  There is always something different happening for me just due to having young children. But in general, I check and briefly respond to any e-mails and convo’s in the morning, work on my blog or making things at nap time and spend three or four nights per week working on designs after the kids go to bed.

Are you trained as an artist?  If yes, what degree(s) or certificates do you hold and where did you earn it/them? If no, how did you learn to make the items you offer in your shop?  I am not trained as an artist. Oh, how I would have changed that if I could re-live my college years!  It’s laughable how little formal art education I have, but I have learned that anything you want to do can pretty much be found in a free tutorial on YouTube or elsewhere on the web.  That being said, I have experimented quite a bit and significantly altered what I learned about making bows (and tutus) with much better results than just following a tutorial verbatim.

 In what other areas of your life (or interests that you have) do you see your creativity shining through? (Gardening, music, performing arts, writing, creative ‘foreign’ language expression etc.)   I love pretty things of all types, so I have a little cottage garden I scratch around in.  I think it’s fun to decide how to mix colors as well as forms, scents and tastes outdoors and often solicit my kids for their ideas.  I also wrote a children’s book that maybe I’ll pluck up enough courage one day to try and have published, but for now I enjoy it with my kids.  I love to cook delicious and healthy things to eat too.  But most of all, I love the beauty and richness of American Sign Language, Deaf culture and the Deaf themselves.  I am regularly involved with interpreting music at the church I belong to and will be starting back to school this fall and working toward the goal of completing the Interpreting Training Program at a local junior college one class at a time.

What is one thing you will be going out of your way to learn more about in the coming year to benefit your business? I’ll be working on managing the work-life balance better for sure.  Long nights in the basement may be fun and productive for the time, but cost much in what I can give my kids the next day.  If any of you have any helpful tips on this, let me know.   ;)

What steps are you taking to ensure your products follow applicable child safety laws? Safety has always been something I have taken seriously.  Because of this, all my items are made from a combination of items that either don’t require lead testing or are certified to comply with lead regulations.  I test items to see if they meet choking hazard regulations and label items for age appropriate use with the idea that parents should be informed enough to make great choices about small parts for their littlest ones.

Where can we find you?                                                                                                                                                                       Http://www.loveinbloomboutique.etsy.com  

Http://www.facebook.com/loveinbloomboutique

Http://twitter.com/#!/loveinbloomshop

And of course, here on Live Love Bloom Craft!

Keep it crafty!

Kristin

Editor's Pick!

I just discovered that my shop is listed among the Editor's Picks on page 7 of the Spring 2011 edition of  Bebes & Beaus Magazine.  You can check it out here: http://www.bebesnbeaus.com/issue.html

Happy Friday!
Kristin

The Patch features Love in Bloom Boutique... What a tremendous honor!!

TOWN PULSE

By Genevieve Suzuki | Email the author | 12:31am

Volunteers in the News, Business

Bloom Town: Crafty La Mesa Mom Spins Dress Code into an Online Business

Opportunity didn't knock for Kristin Vent. It came wrapped up in a beautiful red bow. She feels feel “like I’m really blooming as a person for the first time.”

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La Mesa mom Kristin Vent owns Love in Bloom, an Etsy store featuring girls' hair accessories.

Kristin Vent’s line of girls’ hair accessories was born out of necessity when she realized her daughter’s school, Christ Lutheran of La Mesa, requires hairpieces to be in school colors.

“This is not entirely a bad thing, since I know she won’t be clashing with her uniform—as most kids will do if given a chance—but  I had a bit of trouble finding age-appropriate items in red, white, black and gray.  So I took matters into my own hands and started making them myself,” said Vent, a mom of three who moved to La Mesa from Julian nine years ago.


After discovering she had a talent for hairy situations, stay-at-home mom Vent struck out on her own with her Love in Bloom Etsy site. Vent has been selling her accessories since last fall and hopes to expand her business by offering tutus and matching bows in the coming weeks. She’s also planning a line of kids jewelry this fall.


“I came up with the name Love in Bloom as a result of the many different ways I saw God working in my life over the past year,” said Vent, quoting John with “And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love.”


“I have changed quite a bit in the last year, primarily because this truth finally made its way into my heart.  I see so many new possibilities in my life and feel quite a bit like I’m really blooming as a person for the first time.”


Love in Bloom is, well, blooming.


Oma’s Dairy Farm in Lakeside, also known as Oma’s Pumpkin Patch and Oma’s Christmas Tree Patch, carries a selection of her items. Vent also plans to be at several events this year, including the Parent Connection Swap Meet on March 27 at Canyon Crest Academy in Carmel Valley. Growing more and more savvy everyday, Vent is also donating several bows to Christ Lutheran’s annual gala and silent auction supporting the school.


In addition to her Etsy store, Vent has a Facebook page and a brand new blog. “This blog is brand new… I am currently having a giveaway for a $10 gift certificate to my shop to one of my first 100 blog followers,”  Vent said.

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Ok, I can't believe it! I never dreamed in a million years that someone from a newspaper would do a story like this about the things I've made! I am so honored and excited!!! Thanks everyone for all your support!!

Craftfully yours,
Kristin

The Patch can be found here: http://lamesa.patch.com/

It's Give-Away Time!

When I reach my short-term goal of having 50 people following this blog, I will be giving away a $10 . 00 gift certificate redeemable at my Etsy shop: www.loveinbloomboutique.etsy.com .
You or a friend could be the lucky winner!

Craftfully yours,
Kristin