Inside Scoop : Melissa Arnold

It's time again for the Inside Scoop! Get to know Melissa Arnold of Sahetah’s Jewelry a little better by reading her responses to my unexpected, but fun, questions.

~some photos NAME wanted to share~

Shop: www.SahetahsJewelry.com
FB: www.facebook.com/sahetahsjewelryfanpage
Blog: sahetahscrazedwritings.blogspot.com

My signature color(s): Purple  

3 things in my handbag right now: mascara, handmade earrings from my shop, 3 pounds of small change  

The superpower I would love to have: The power to change people. Why? Because I think that’s the only power that could stop animal abuse.  

I get inspired by: Spending time with my best friend who is also an entrepreneur and talking about business really gets me inspired. We are motivated by what each other is doing and we help each other out. It is great having that kind of support around. We can come up with great and fun ideas.  

What I’m reading: What I’m waiting to read is the final book of the Wheel of Time series by the late Robert Jordan. Best writer there ever was.  

If you could live anywhere you wanted (money's no object), where would it be? Right here, cuz I take care of my grampa...but if ‘he’ was willing to move, we’d move to florida by the beach as a nice retirement for him. 

Where do you see yourself/business in 5 years? I would love it if my business was my main job because it was doing well. I don’t want it to be horribly busy as I would love to have time for family, but certainly something I can dedicate a few hours of each day to. If I had family members to pitch in with deliveries and packaging, that would be amazing. I would still love to do craft shows. Hopefully have a beautiful set up that looks like you just walked into a shop in the middle of a craft show. I just love meeting the people who love my work, talking to them and hearing their stories. I always want to keep that part of my business. 

Favorite Reality TV Show: Kitchen Nightmares, or Whale Wars...but that could be considered a documentary. I don’t actually like ‘reality shows’. Kitchen Nightmares really opens you up for what is going on in the kitchen and how your food is being prepared. If the food don’t look right or taste right, you start to wonder if the fridges look like anything that Chef Ramsey has discovered on Kitchen Nightmares. 

If you were forced to only have 1 make-up item, what would it be and why? I rarely put on makeup, and even then just a little cover up and some mascara does the trick. But if I had to live with one, I think it will have to be the cover-up.  

What's your favorite item you've ever made? That is an easy choice. The Cinderella book that I have had since I was a little girl is my favourite item of all time, and I may be far out grown those children’s books, but that book is here to stay.
 
My parents would never buy me toys or books unless it was from a thrift store. While walking through a mall with my parents and great grandparents we stopped at a small bookstore. I instantly fell in love with the Cinderella book as I loved the movie, but didn’t own it. It was the fairy tale ‘I’ wanted, but my parents would not buy it for me. I didn’t put up much of a fuss, but I was certainly sad. My great Grampa saw me with the book that I was squeezing, and bought it for me hushing both my parents. I remember thinking something like ‘My Grampa must love me if he’s buying this at a real bookstore!” And I have taken care of the book ever since. 

~

Thanks Melissa! 

I feel like we know you just a little better now! :)

~xo 

   
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Inside Scoop : Tara of Taradara

It's time again for the Inside Scoop! Get to know Tara of Taradara a little better by reading her responses to my unexpected, but fun, questions.

~some photos Tara wanted to share~

Shop: http://taradara.etsy.com
FB: TaraDara
Blog: http://taradaramadeit.com

My signature color(s): Anything vibrant!  I love color and it's certainly reflected in my work.

3 things in my handbag right now: Wallet {made by me}, my iPhone, sunglasses

The superpower I would love to have: The power to control my boys when they're at their height of rambunctiousness {is that a word?}

I get inspired by: Magazines and other artisans

What I’m reading: I'm reading multiple books ... Wordpress for Dummies, The Martha Rules, and I always refer to my handy The Handmade Marketplace

 
If you could live anywhere you wanted (money's no object), where would it be? British Columbia, Canada {that's where I'm from}

Where do you see yourself/business in 5 years? My boys will be in school full time, so I see myself pouring all of me in to my business during their school hours.  I will maintain my integrity to always be there for them and not let my business get in the way of time with them {they're only young once and I don't want to have any regrets!}.  I see my business in full bloom in 5 years ... or whatever God has planned for me.

Favorite Reality TV Show: American Idol, of course!

If you were forced to only have 1 make-up item, what would it be and why? Mascara ... eyes always seem to pop just a little bit more with it on

What's your favorite item you've ever made? My son's quilt.  It was made of his receiving blanket from the hospital, fabric from my mom and my mother in law.  He will always have a part of us with him with this quilt and we will keep him warm while he sleeps.

~

Thanks Tara! 

I feel like we know you just a little better now! :)

~xo 
 

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Inside Scoop : Kristine Bessell

It's time again for the Inside Scoop! Get to know Kristine Bessell of Cherry Tree Soaps a little better by reading her responses to my unexpected, but fun, questions.

~some photos Kristine wanted to share~

Shop: www.cherrytreesoaps.com

FB: www.cherrytreesoaps.blogspot.com

Blog: www.facebook.com/CherryTreeSoaps

Twitter: @CherryTreeSoaps

My signature color(s): My signature website colors, as well as the colors in my logo, are a dark cherry pink and spring green.

3 things in my handbag right now: My Cherry Tree Soaps Pumpkin Pie Lip Balm (of course, since I am a lip balm addict), my Kindle, and a spare pair of underwear (not for me - LOL! - for my newly potty-trained son).

The superpower I would love to have: I would love to be able to fly!

I get inspired by: Seeing other women, just like me, take a passion, a hobby, a desire to learn and to create...and turn it into a successful business. I am just in awe of the amazing things other women artisans are capable of doing with their talents and creative minds. 

What I’m reading: Crazy Love by Francis Chan

If you could live anywhere you wanted (money's no object), where would it be? I've always wanted to live in Hawaii. 

Where do you see yourself/business in 5 years? I would love to have my own little shop within the next 5 years!

Favorite Reality TV Show: I don't really watch much reality TV, but I recently caught a few episodes of Guiliana & Bill and really like it (they're such a cute couple!)

If you were forced to only have 1 make-up item, what would it be and why? Well, I don't wear makeup...but you will never see me without my lip balm! I can't stand the feeling of dry, cracked lips and so I have lip balms stashed in every drawer of my house and keep several in all my purses. Some people panic when they leave their phone at home - I panic when I leave home without my lip balm (did I mention I was a lip balm addict? LOL!).

What's your favorite item you've ever made? Oooh, that's a tough one because I have so much fun making my products and whenever I come up with something new, that's usually my new favorite thing! I would have to say my favorite item right now is my new Dipped Apple Soap. It just looks so real, smells incredible, and the process of crafting each apple is just so much fun.

~

Thanks Kristine! 

I feel like we know you just a little better now! :)

~xo  

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share this article by clicking 
the social links below.

Pumpkins on Porches

The epitome of fall... enjoy!

image via Pottery Barn

image via Better Homes & Gardens

inage via Southern Living

image via eabdesigns.typepad.com

image via lateforaveryimportantpregnancy.blogspot.com

image via worthingcourt.blogspot.com

image via worthingcourt.blogspot.com

image via worthingcourt.blogspot.com

Happy Autumn :)
~xo

Inside Scoop : Shannon of Sweet Stella's

So, I'm a total peeping tom and wanted to know some off the wall details about the artisans I admire (I already know the normal stuff from reading their profiles on their websites) so I've come up with a plan to get some insider details -- a "get to really know you" feature blog post interview!

Read on to find out fun facts about some amazing artisans!

~Some of Shannon's Favorite Photos~

Shops: www.sweetstellas.com, www.sweetstellas.etsy.com 
Blog: www.sweetstellas.blogspot.com 
FB: www.facebook.com/SweetStellas

My signature color(s): Cream, white, navy, grey. I love the neutrals, and throw in some stripes...I'm there!

3 things in my handbag right now: You mean diaper bag right?  Blackberry, lip gloss, diapers

The superpower I would love to have: Making time slow down...too much to do, and with being a working-at-home-mom, there's never enough time!

I get inspired by: my son, Owen. He's at such a go-go-go lively stage and he gets amazed by the funniest things...like stirring a spatula in an empty bowl! how can you not be inspired by those simple, amazing things? 

What I’m reading: 1300 Reasons to Smile

If you could live anywhere you wanted (money's no object), where would it be? definitely out in the country, with lots of green space for Owen to run and play...and a small stable for the horses 

Where do you see yourself/business in 5 years? Definitely more fulltime than it is now, with product in a variety of different boutique shops, with orders to fill up every business day! 

Favorite Reality TV Show: Hands down is Survivor! I was so excited when I got the notification that Jeff Probst posed with my stationary at the Emmy's gifting suite!

If you were forced to only have 1 make-up item, what would it be and why? Mineral powder foundation. It jsut makes everything look fresh, clean and beautiful

What's your favorite item you've ever made? My son's first ornament was the first ornament that I painted, just before I opened my shop. Throughout the year, it hangs on the pinboard in my studio as a constant reminder as to why I do what I do. 

~

Thanks Shannon! 

I feel like I know you just a little better now! :)

~xo 

Fave Song of the Week: Patience

This is one of those songs that just tears at you! LOVE it.

Patience by Nas and Damian Marley


Lyrics:

Here we are
here we are
Yeah
This one right here is for the people

Sabali, Sabali, Sabali, yonkontê
Sabali, Sabali, Sabali, kiye
Ni kêra môgô
Sabali, Sabali, Sabali, yonkontê
Sabali, Sabali, Sabali, kagni
Ni kêra môgô

Ay yo D. Lets go all the way on this one.

Some of the smartest dummies
Can’t read the language of Egyptian mummies
An’ a fly go a moon
And can’t find food for the starving tummies
Pay no mind to the youths
Cause it’s not like the future depends on it
But save the animals in the zoo
Cause the chimpanzee dem a make big money
This is how the media pillages
On the TV the picture is
Savages in villages
And the scientist still can’t explain the pyramids, huh
Evangelists making a living on the videos of ribs of the little kids
Stereotyping the image of the images
And this is what the image is
You buy a khaki pants
And all of a sudden you say a Indiana Jones
An’ a thief out gold and thief out the scrolls and even the buried bones
Some of the worst paparazzis I’ve ever seen and I ever known
Put the worst on display so the world can see
And that’s all they will ever show
So the ones in the west
Will never move east
And feel like they could be at home
Dem get tricked by the beast
But a where dem ago flee when the monster is fully grown?
Solomonic linage whe dem still can’t defeat and them coulda never clone
My spiritual DNA that print in my soul and I will forever Own Lord

Yeah, Sabali. That's patience. That’s what the old folks told me…
Discovering the World before this World. A World buried in time.
Uncover with rhymes. It gets no realer.

Huh, we born not knowing, are we born knowing all?
We growing wiser, are we just growing tall?
Can you read thoughts? can you read palms?
Huh, can you predict the future? can you see storms, coming?
The Earth was flat if you went too far you would fall off
Now the Earth is round if the shape change again everybody woulda start laugh
The average man can’t prove of most of the things that he chooses to speak of
And still won’t research and find out the root of the truth that you seek of
Scholars teach in Universities and claim that they’re smart and cunning
Tell them find a cure when we sneeze and that’s when their nose start running
And the rich get stitched up, when we get cut
Man a heal dem broken bones in the bush with the wed mud
Can you read signs? can you read stars?
Can you make peace? can you fight war?
Can you milk cows, even though you drive cars? huh
Can you survive, Against All Odds, Now?

It’s crazy when you feed people the truth you don’t know how they’re gonna react. You’re scared of wrong doers, people that just ignorant, You’re scared of the truth, be patient for now.

Who wrote the Bible? Who wrote the Qur’an?
And was it a lightning storm
That gave birth to the Earth
And then dinosaurs were born? damn
Who made up words? who made up numbers?
And what kind of spell is mankind under?
Everything on the planet we preserve and can it
Microwaved it and try it
No matter what we’ll survive it
What’s hue? what’s man? what’s human?
Anything along the land we consuming
Eatin’, deletin’, ruin
Trying to get paper
Gotta have land, gotta have acres
So I can sit back like Jack Nicholson
Watch n-ggas play the game like the lakers
In a world full of 52 fakers
Gypsies, seances, mystical prayers
You superstitious? throw salt over your shoulders
Make a wish for the day cuz
Like somebody got a doll of me
Stickin’ needles in my arteries
But I can’t feel it
Sometimes it’s like ‘pardon me, but I got a real big spirit’
I’m fearless…. I’m fearless
Don’t you try and grab hold of my soul
It’s like a military soldier since seven years old
I held real dead bodies in my arms
Felt their body turn cold, oh
Why we born in the first place
If this is how we gotta go?
Damn.

This goes to all the wisdom and knowledge seekers of the World. Sabali, Patience, yeah.

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