HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!!!

Happy Thanksgiving from

The Downtown Boutique!

We'd love to hear from you about what you are thankful for this year.

Please leave us a comment or two.

God bless you and your family this Thanksgiving!

Angie

Wordless Wednesday -- Featuring Party Place

Newbie Tuesday

A Monday Mini -- Featuring Ellembee

Happy Almost Thanksgiving! The Downtown Boutique is working on getting as many featured guests in, as we are able to, before Christmas. (I apologize, but I have been under the weather with a yucky cold, so I just haven't gotten the chance or the time now, to do the in depth gift guides that I started doing.)

So today, we're featuring Ellembee, a shop which I found on Etsy, by doing some looking around in the Time Machine. This shop has clothing that is TOTALLY my style! I just love the designs on Lisa's products. Here's her Etsy Mini so that you can see what I'm talking about:


I asked Lisa to share a little about herself, and here is what she shared (adapted from another blog interview in which she participated):

TDB: How long have you been screen printing and working with clothing, and how did you become interested in it?
Lisa: I just started screen printing about 5 months ago. I was a bedding designer in California for the past 4 years, until I got laid off in January. I moved back to Michigan, where I grew up, and had to find a way to make some money! I had taken a screen printing class in college, so I knew the basics. I looked at some how-to videos on Youtube, and read a few books on the subject, and just sort of fumbled my way through figuring out how to do it!


TDB: What is your personal favorite of your collection and why?
Lisa: I have a love/hate relationship with lacy indigo. The design that I originally thought of for that shirt looks totally different. I sort of happened upon the way it ended up looking, and I think it turned out great. That shirt is my best seller, and I think it's the most original in my line, but because of the bleaching process that I do, and the intricacy of the design, I mess up a lot of them that can't be sent out, (that's the part I hate!)


TDB: Things are tough these days, especially for many of us "starving artists". What do you do to stay positive in such a difficult field?
Lisa: I LOVE working for myself! I love the fact that how much money I make is completely up to me; I take full responsibility for my income. With amazing places like etsy.com and the local craft fairs that I do, the sky is the limit. I find myself working 14-hour days, 6 and 7 days a week, and it doesn't even faze me, because I love what I'm doing! I love my job!

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Ok, now for the FUN part! Lisa is offering a wonderful giveaway to our readers...the WINNER gets to pick one item from Lisa's shop. Yes, you heard right, you have your choice of what you want if you win!!!!

Here's what I would pick if I were eligible to enter:

How YOU can enter to win your choice of item from Ellembee: Please visit Ellembee, then come back here and let us know what you would choose if you won.

For one extra entry: Please blog about this giveaway and then post the link to your blog post in a separate comment.

For one more extra entry: For Bloggers only, you can "Follow" us by clicking on "Follow This Blog", up on the top right hand side. It doesn't count if you are already following us. Please leave a separate comment if you decide to become a "follower".

For one more entry: Add our blog to your blogroll. Please leave a separate comment with the link to your blog.

For one MORE entry: If you TWEET about this giveaway, you can earn an extra entry. Please put "@rioosodesigns" at the beginning of your tweet, so that I can see where you tweeted. Then come back here and leave a separate comment about your tweet.

WHEW! Ok, deadline to enter is Sunday, November 30th at Midnight PST. You MUST have a valid email attached either to your blog account, or to your comment. This giveaway is open worldwide.

Have a great week and Happy Thanksgiving!
Angie

Friday Feature No. 33 -- Featuring Jenny Karlsson

Well, it's late, and I have a toddler, who just got up from his nap crying, sitting in my arms. Please forgive me if there are typos that I don't catch.

You might have noticed that we have not had a Friday Feature for the past two weeks. This is much my fault because I sent out my reminder emails a little too late...like the day before! I have been sick, and so has our little guy, so things aren't getting done as well as I had hoped.

Today, we are featuring Jenny of Jenny Karlsson Design. Jenny lives in Sweden, and is one of a very few featured guests who live outside of the USA! Jenny's shop is a delightful display of cozy items, such as crocheted flower brooches, unique (and numbered) handbags, and more.

Here is a little interview with Jenny:

TDB: When did you first get into crafting, and who taught you to craft?

Jenny: I think it must have been my mother at some time. She used to make some of our clothes when we were younger, and also some soft toys. I remember getting a simple little loom that you could weave scarfs & such in.. At least I know that now - back then I made mats for my dolls' house :) But I have always been interested in making things, the creativity have always needed to come out somehow. I am mainly self-taught I guess..

TDB: From where do you get your inspiration for your crafting?

Jenny: A lot of it comes from nature, flora and fauna. Some times it's things that I see that inspires me, most times though I think it is that the things that brings me energy is the things that I get inspiration from. The will to make something must be there. Then I also love beautiful magazines, children's books, art, history, times past. I like a lot of old things. They have feeling to them.

TDB: What is your favorite thing to create?

Jenny: I like variation. Simple and complicated. I do love to do embroidery and such and would like to have time to make more intricate things. It is easy to get caught up in the 'must make & sell'- circle.. Then again one of the best things with handicrafts is that it must take its time, and then it turn out best. When I have made something it has filled its purpose for me somehow. It's the making that I like, and I don't have trouble parting with my work. I rarely keep something for myself.

TDB: Please tell us a little about your family.

Jenny: There's my beloved one, mom, dad, two brothers and Lilly the dog. I live on my own but I talk to my parents really often and one of my brothers lives in the next door house :) I talk even more often with my beloved one, we live about 300 kilometres apart at the moment..

TDB: If you had 3 wishes granted to you, what would you wish for?
Jenny: Tricky question.. Hm.. I think I would have to be a bit materialistic and ask for 1. 'never have to worry about money', you know - so you have enough to get by and a little more. 2. For my loved ones to be happy and live well. 3. Being able to teleport myself all over the place (would be very practical).Hm, that last one might change a bit, but the other two will stay the same. :)Then again, you gather wisdom all your life by living & learning.

TDB: If you could travel back to any time period in history, where would you go, and why?

Jenny: I have thought about this sometimes.. and there are a few options.. victorian England, 1920's, beginning of the 19th century and perhaps Egypt. These are a few of the time periods that fascinates me and I find a lot of inspiration in. I guess it is also down to The Pre-Raphaelite movement, Arts & Crafts, Arthur Rackham-Edmund Dulac-Walter Crane ( illustrators), The House of Eliott (series) & Jane Austen.. Oh and Charles Dickens.. I do like times past. I can get quite nostalgic about periods in time that I haven't even lived, but am longing for somehow.

TDB: Please share 3 random, little known facts about you
Jenny:
* I was in a youth circus when I was younger. Doing simple acrobatics dressed up as a native american (in a shirt & pants made out of brown flanell that my mother had made, and with red & white stripes in my face).
* I really like playing computer games, especially where you get to chop around with swords and such..Guns works too :) .. There must be a plot though, adventure and excitement. My favorites are Monkey Island x 4, Morrowind, Fable, Half-Life and NoOneLivesForever.. Those are the ones I've played the most. I think...
* I have never smoked a single cigarette. Er.. Oh well, I couldn't come up with any other fact just now.. :)


Thanks Jenny! It was great to find out a little more about the woman behind the designs!
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The Giveaway: A $15.00 "Gift Certificate" to Jenny's shop on Etsy.com.

To Enter: Please visit Jenny Karlsson Design, then come back here and leave a comment about either your favorite item in Jenny's shop or what you would spend this gift certificate on, if you are the winner. Please be sure to have a VALID email address attached to either your comment (like this: downtownboutique (at) sbcglobal (dot) ne), or your Blogger account. You do not have to have a Blogger account to enter, as long as you have an email made available to us.

For one extra entry: Please blog about this giveaway and leave a separate comment with the link to your post.

For another entry: We'd love to have you follow our blog! You will get updates in Blogger with each new post. Yes, you must have a Blogger account for this one. No, it doesn't count if you are already following.

Deadline to enter: Thursday, November 27th at Midnight PST. Giveaway is open worldwide.

Have a great weekend!
Angie

As some of you may know, we are in the process of adopting a little boy who is now 2 years old. He came to us six months ago tomorrow! As far as we know, the adoption finalization process will begin in the early part of December, which means that the adoption will most likely be finalized in mid to late January! We are SO excited!

We are trying to raise money for the adoption fees, and so we are offering an adoption special in our Rio Oso Designs shop right now. From now, through the end of December, you can receive 20% off on anything in the shop. Your discount will come in the way of a Paypal refund after you have completed your payment.

Your dicount code is ADOPT20. Please mention this code in your "Notes to Seller", when you are checking out.

Thank you!

Angie

Thursday Thumbnail -- Featuring Crocheted Little Things

Today we are featuring one of our Project Wonderful advertisers, Crocheted Little Things. Lu makes some wonderful crocheted items, including Christmas ornaments, baby booties, and more.

Let's hear from Lu herself:

Hi, My name is Lu and I'm the owner of "Crocheted Little Things" under the nick name of piccoladonna2006. I come from Italy, and in Italian "piccola donna" means "little woman" and that's where my shop name come from. I'm a 26 yo stay at home busy mom of 2 wonderful kids and I have this big passion for crochet. I learned how to crochet when I was 9-10 from my mom who is a "doilie maker". It was something I liked to do during summer breaks, but never thought I could use it like I'm doing now! My biggest inspiration is the enthusiasm my kids share with me when looking at my new creations ot comes from little daily things....the necessity of a warm garment, the willing of embellish my house...I do not consider this like a job simply because I really enjoy crochet each and every piece!

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A Giveaway from Crocheted Little Things: This darling set of four Crocheted Cupcake Christmas Ornaments.

To enter: Please visit Crocheted Little Things, then come back here and comment about your favorite item from Lu's shop.

Deadline to enter is Wednesday, November 26th at Midnight PST. Giveaway is open to everyone worldwide.

I've Been Featured on "Simply Sentimental: the Blog"

Hurry! Go! Rush on over to find out what Sydnei has said about me! There's even a giveaway with TWO winners!!! CLICK HERE.

Wordless Wednesday Featuring Sew Much Detail

A Trading List

Back on November 3rd, I mentioned that I would put together a list of Etsy shops who are open to trades for Christmas shopping. Well, I am now coming through on that "promise", so here are those shops, in no particular order:

Clean Rinse (natural cleaning products)

Avary's Alyns (Sci-Fi inspired clay creatures)

Sweet Side (fabric, zippers, and supplies)

Holly Rose (jewelry and supplies)

Poppy Raye Studio (jewelry and artwork)

Sha Sha Ann (artwork for children)

Mon Ami Greetings (paper goods, greeting cards, etc.)

Zady Ball (baby toys)

Twilight Knits (hand dyed yarns)

Simply Just Minerals (mineral makeup)

Inu Inspirations (goodies and accessories for dogs and cats)

Camphor Creations (handsewn items)

Silver Nebel Jewelry (handcrafted jewelry)

Love Always, XOX (paper goods and handsewn items)

Bead Creations International (handcrafted jewelry)

Confessions of a Crochet Addict (crocheted goodies)

Erin's Corner (handmade items for pets and kids)

Azhure Jewels (handcrafted jewelry)

Boston Bag Lady (paper goods)

Dragonfly Stitches (handmade quilts and vintage wood puzzles)

Lucy's Postcard Quilts (handsewn and crocheted goodies)

Beaux Bijoux (handcrafted jewelry)

Pixie Hollow Enchantasies (handpainted goodies)

The Brass Hussy (handcrafted jewelry)

Montana Hatter (hand crocheted hats and accessories)

Renee's Fashions (handsewn goodies--many Christmas items)

Renee's Soap (handcrafted soaps)

Chasing Lilies (handcrafted jewelry and chalkboard/memo boards)

Julian Wysocki (website design)

Snowberry Lime (handspun yarns)

Brandye's Beads (handcrafted jewelry and yarn goodies)

Sweet Irie Originals (wristlet key fobs)

Rio Oso Designs (digital designs)