Introducing Gifts for Coffee Lovers

If you're a regular--or even an occasional!--reader of this blog, you'll know that one of my favorite things to write about is a unique Etsy shop. Barbara's Design Solutions on Etsy is a cool shop that has a variety of home decor items as well as fashion and gifts, but it also has a special section of Coffee House Blend gifts that sets it apart.

Barbara brings you a variety of unique handcrafted items, including home decor products, home fragrances, unisex fashion, auto accessories, stationery, and bed and bath products--all made in America. She has put together a pretty incredible array of products, especially those related to coffee. I would say this is a great place to find a one of a kind gift for the coffee lover in your life.

What really makes an Etsy shop stand out in my mind is when someone finds an interesting niche and creates a variety of products around their theme. Well, if you like coffee and/or if you have friends who like coffee, I think you'll enjoy Barbara's Design Solutions on Etsy. You can also find the Coffee House Blend items on their own website at www.coffeehouseblend.com.

Her Etsy shop has several different categories such as fashion/accessories, wedding related items, and ceramic or glass mugs and tiles. The largest category is for art for home and office, and you will find a wide selection of big and smaller pieces to hang on your wall, including removable peel and stick wall art and eco-friendly fabric art. When it comes to coffee, I especially like her coffee-related t-shirts, wall art, and jewelry (such as a cute coffee cup necklace).

You can learn more about Barbara's products by watching the video below.

By the way, Barbara also does a lot of custom items. This can range from buying an item with a monogram to buying a completely unique and customized piece of art made just for you. Check out her sites and contact her if you have an idea that you'd like to make a reality!

Meet Pukka Borg, Clothing Designer and Etsy Seller

Pukka Borg describes herself as a different kind of person. She's always found attractive the unusual stuff but yet interesting and unique things. She is creative, and she spends all her days creating and designing alternative rocker clothing and accessories. Check out her work on Etsy, and follow her on Facebook.

1. How do you get the inspiration for your clothing designs?

Sometimes I spend my time in quiet places and imagine myself wearing an outfit at a certain place with a certain mood. It is like I build up a character. That's why every design I create has a story. After having spent late nights thinking and creating at first, it comes to me more naturally now. My creations have become to be a part of my life, an everyday thing.

2. What are some of the benefits of Etsy as a platform for selling your creations?

I found Etsy is the best platform to promote handmade items. There are so many talented people with different skills and qualities. If everyone tries to understand that all these items are made by a pair of hands, then they will be more appreciated. I thank Etsy for giving me the opportunity to spread my creations to the entire world.

3. Could you tell us a little bit more about the name of your shop and what it means?

Bitten STC stands for Bitten Spread The Curse. The idea behind this name came from dark art culture of which I am currently running a page on Facebook. Once you admire this culture then you are Bitten and will start to Spread The Curse. My designs express this darkness and inspire the "Bitten" culture. Shadow District Project is another page I am running on Facebook. It features my dark creations and the name is derived from the post-apocalyptic theme of my creations.

4. What are some of your favorite materials you like to use, and where do you source your materials?

Studs and leather (vinyl) makes a perfect combination! I usually purchase some of my materials from local shops, but I don't always find what I'm looking for. For certain designs I need to purchase the materials online. Now I am planning to work on new designs which will consist of different types of materials and fabrics. I believe you have to be versatile from time to time.

5. In your own wardrobe, what are some of your "essential" pieces that you love to wear?

I can't separate myself from the SDP Wild Savage Wolf Jacket. I remember one of those terrible cold nights, had to ride on the bike with my husband and I didn't feel even a shiver with this jacket!

The SDP Pointed Hoodie is one of my designs that I wear a lot. It is light weight and I have to admit it I am obsessed with hoodies!

And the SDP Hazard Pants is a unique piece I have. I created this one especially in a Post Apocalyptic theme.

I can't stop mentioning the items I've designed because what I create is what I had always wanted to wear--and most importantly they have to be comfortable.

Thanks, Pukka!

Meet Anakiz, Artist, Craftsperson, and Etsy Seller

With her two friends Zeynep and Meltem, Anakiz runs the Etsy shop Nakkashe. They make and sell a variety of crochet jewelry and accessories for ladies. The Etsy shop allows them to make money while doing what they love. Anakiz and her friends live in Turkey.

1. How did you decide to start an Etsy shop?

Four or five years ago, I resigned from my day job. It was very stressful, and I was working late hours. Then we moved to another city where my husband's family live (Mersin). Being alone in a new city pushed me to do something. In the past, I had always earned my own money, and just being a housewife did not make me happy. I took sewing and needle lace classes and developed my crocheting skills. Then I started to design and make crocheted jewelry. While searching the internet to find out "handmade" bazaars, I found Etsy and opened a shop, with limited items at first.

2. How do you choose the designs, yarns, and fabrics to make for your shop?

Crocheting is an art in my culture, and there are many supplies made specially for this. I buy lots of "oya crochet" threads in almost every color, and I buy any fabric I like if it is suitable to make a scarf or neck scarf. Regarding designs, I'm inspired by cultural motifs and nature (especially flowers).

3. What is your process when it comes to working collaboratively with your friends to create items for your shop?

I was alone when I started my Etsy shop. Then Zeynep , my best friend, joined me. Finally Meltem joined the team and we are now three crochet-loving ladies. Sometimes we all together make a design and choose the colors, materials, etc. Other times we do our own pieces. We are a nice team and good friends.

4. What have been some of your best-selling items so far, and how do you hope to grow your shop in the future?

Thread crochet necklaces are our best seller. We hope to open a small brick and mortar shop and take wholesale orders from different countries.

5. Is your work influenced by traditional Turkish arts and crafts?

Absolutely yes! Thread crochet and needle (sewing needle) crochet and scarves are very famous in our country. And our moms taught us crocheting at very early ages.

Thanks, Anakiz!

Meet Andre' Stewart of Ardané, a Clothing Line

Ardané is a privately held company that all started with a simple idea: design fresh, high-quality, unique items. The company's CEO, Andre' Stewart, has been working in fashion and entertainment for 14 years, from runway modeling to acting, which all goes hand and hand with fashion (which is how Ardané came about!). Keep up with Ardané on Instagram and Twitter.

1. Do you design the items in your collection yourself, or do you collaborate with designers?

Well, let me start by saying I'm definitely no Photoshop or Illustrator guru, but I do have an eye for design. Some I have designed myself, and some I have been fortunate enough to be able to collaborate with some great designers, but on every design I have had my input on what I think needs to be changed, added, or taken away to get us the finished product. I will say sometimes it is challenging having a great idea in your mind and having someone else try to create it and have it done the way you envision it.

2. Why does Ardané specialize in t-shirts, tops, hats, etc?

The reason I chose T-shirts, tops, hats, and etc is because with a lot of the new designs I saw coming out, none seemed to be unique, and the quality wasn't great in my opinion. The way we come up with our designs and choosing our fabric is strictly by what our customers suggest, and that's how we differentiate ourselves from a lot of other brands. I also wanted to create something people could do everything in, like wear the same shirt out to dinner, at an upscale lounge, or to the park to play basketball in and never once get looked at like what are they wearing?? That's why we choose the type of designs and the style of shirts we do.

Along with that, I know everything starts with branding. I'm building a brand, not only through clothing, but with our service, shipping, social media presence, local events etc. We also knew starting with those options is the easiest way to break into the clothing industry and generate the buzz and income needed to branch out into other product lines without expending too much of your own capital in the building and growth process. It will also establish a brand-loyal customer base, and that's what any business needs to be successful, especially in this industry. As with any brand you need those consistently loyal repeat customers who will buy from you just because of the name. A brand-insistent customer is what we are trying to develop.

3. I noticed that Ardané will debut a denim collection soon. What else can we expect to see on ardaneworldwide.com over the next year or so?

Yes, we are looking to release the denim collection soon; it is in the developmental stages but it's going to be amazing stuff, great quality and price which is hard to find with denim. As for what's to come, we hope that people stay connected with us through social media, because what we try to do as often as possible is let our customers dictate what we release or do next. At the end of the day, we want them to be happy and become that brand-insistent customer I mentioned earlier. Let me ask, would you want to be a part of creating your next piece of clothing you were going to buy? That's what Ardané is about. So to answer that, you have to stay connected to see what's coming next.

4. Would you tell us a little bit about how Ardané helps by contributing to Autism-related charities?

Autism is a very close to home reality for me; my niece was diagnosed with Autism when she was three years old, and I have two friends who have kids with Autism as well. I really don't think people understand what it is or know how expensive it is to care for a child with Autism and also the magnitude of Autism. ASA estimates it is $3.5 million to $5 million lifetime cost just to care for a child. With that being said, we have an Autism collection that continues every season, and all the proceeds from the collection go to different Autism charities in different states. We also donate a portion of all of our proceeds to Autism charities as well. We have done multiple fundraisers and events to raise funds and awareness for Autism and will continue to do so until people are really aware.

5. What has been your experience so far in starting a clothing line, and how has it been similar and different to your career in modeling?

Starting Ardané has been an amazing journey. It's not easy by faaaar, but I wouldn't want to do anything different than continue building the brand. It's hard to explain the feeling you get when you see someone wearing something you created or someone you don't know giving you a compliment about what you are aspiring to do. It's the same with the modeling career. To turn a page and see yourself in a magazine or on the side of a bus, billboard, or commercial, it's like, wow I'm on the side of a bus! How many people can say that, but with both it's all about consistency and determination. Don't follow your dreams; chase them--that's my motto.

Thanks, Andre'!

Meet Nikki Hines, Owner of Shoeduce Me, An Online Shoe and Accessory Shop

Shoeduce Me is an online shoes and accessory boutique that finds the latest and hottest shoe trends in order to share them with an audience of style-minded women everywhere. The site was built from love and dedication for shoes of all sorts, along with a desire to bring Shoeduce Me's audience, better known as "Shoeducers," the latest and hottest in style and fashion. Shoeducers are lovers of shoes and style with an eye for design, color, high heeled shoe fashion, and the overall seductiveness heels can give to women all over the world. Shoeducers are confident, classy, sexy, and comfortable in their own skin no matter their size, shape, or color and have a passion for fashion. Shoeduce Me is delighted and dedicated to selling their Shoeducers the trendiest and most fashionable must-have shoes, clutches, and accessories to add to their collection.

Our interview is with the owner of Shoeduce Me, Nikki Hines. Visit www.shoeduceme.com for the latest shoes and accessories, and follow Shoeduce Me on Facebook as well as Pinterest, Twitter, and Instagram.

1. What inspired the creation of Shoeduce Me?

I wanted to create something with appeal, sexiness, style, and confidence with affordable prices. Fashion shouldn't be expensive to look good in it. Shoeduce Me was inspired by my love for shoes and shiny new things, how they are designed, how they look on me, and how they make me feel when I wear them, including my accessories.

2. Why are shoes such a key piece of any woman's wardrobe?

Shoes or heels to a woman are key. True "shoeducers" will eat one meal a day for seven days to get those one pair of shoes they saw online or in a magazine. Shoes represent a piece of a woman's fashion personality. It reveals our level of confidence and sexiness.

3. How do you decide which shoes to feature on your site?

Now, that's hard for me because I want to feature every shoe I would wear or stash in my closet. But it's really about having variety for different women whether sexy, reserved, or the very relaxed in flats woman. I try to cater to all women who also enjoy great style and as well as options.

4. Why are black shoes such a perennial favorite when it comes to shoes?

Just as a man should have at least one good looking suit in his closet, I truly believe women have a similar rule that should apply. Women should have at least one good pair of black heels in hers. Fashion wise, I believe it's important for all women to have them and not just a heel she wears to work but an all-around heel. Black heels go with everything, a heel for any occasion or fit whether with an evening gown, dress, or jeans.

5. In addition to shoes, what accessories do you consider to be important in building a striking wardrobe?

Mandy, I can remember my mother coming home from shopping one day and having this kind of blah outfit she purchased on clearance. But man, when she threw her accessories on I barely noticed the look from the bag. That same blah clearance item was like a must-have. I wanted her entire look from head to toe. It wasn't overpowering but accessorized simply enough that it made a difference. Fashion shouldn't be expensive, but you can look like a million bucks with the right accessories and place to shop for them. My biggest advice is to accessorize smart. Sometimes simplicity can also go a long way. Be creative, have fun, add color, make your look pop, but don't overkill. :)

Meet Kate, Founder of Wonder Wander

Wonder Wander is an online custom jewelry and accessory store based in New York City. The shop sells a curated selection of jewelry, scarves, bags, and other fashion accessories.

Our interview below is with Kate, the site's founder. She earned a bachelor's in Statistics and Applied Math, then pursued an MBA degree in Marketing. Her education helps Kate to develop and evaluate business activities in both quantitative and qualitative aspects. After school she started her career in a designer clothing company and then a high-end fashion jewelry company, and these jobs got her involved in fashion's business world. After spending time researching the jewelry industry, Kate decided to build her own jewelry label, featuring stunning trendy custom jewelry with affordable price for everyone.

1. How did Wonder Wander first get started?

Years ago, when I was still in school, I started to shop for custom jewelry items for matching my daily outfits and for special occasions. Years later, after my graduation, many things have changed, but my interest in adorable jewelry was always growing. I started my career in a designer clothing company and then a high-end fashion jewelry company, in New York City. The jobs got me involved in the fashion business world, and in the meantime, I developed a stronger passion in looking for more jewelry pieces with great design and quality.

However, I was frequently astonished by the price points. A small chain necklace may sell for more than $60 to $80, and a large statement necklace with many jewels may be even up to $100 to $200 per piece. But there is no way to wear them all the time. After one to two seasons, they will be locked in my jewelry box forever. The price points were way over my budget. Then I started to think of a solution to solve this, and I believed there must be a large number of females who were encountering the same issue and looking for beautiful, stunning jewelry at an affordable price, so that they were able to constantly update their style. Then, I started to research the custom jewelry industry, and tried to find out the factors that made various costs so high, and the ways to manage that.

And with the non-stop effort, we eventually made it. Our delicate necklaces are only $30 on average, with very nice plating and handcraft. And some of them even have cubic zirconia stone. Cubic zirconia is a kind of man-made jewel which is more expensive and beautiful than crystals. It is durable and has a close visual likeness to diamonds. Also, our statement necklaces are only around $38, and earrings $28.

2. Where do you find the designers to feature on your site?

Thanks to our partner factories' strong support, we do not need to have an in-house designing team for now. As a new startup, there are many challenges. However, our partner factories have more than 50 designers in total, who may be sent to monitor new trends and travel around the world for inspiration. As I constantly research the US market, the team can also develop my findings and make them into various designs. As we grow, we also plan to have our own in-house team in two to three years in NYC, in order to better serve the US market.

3. What are the advantages that an online jewelry shop has over a brick-and-mortar store?

Fashion jewelry is a fast-paced, dynamic world. People's tastes and preferences for different styles are always changing. What is the most convenient and efficient way to get updates? The answer is definitely going on the internet and checking out our site.

Our goal is to make wwander.com a destination where people may not only get updates, but also find a paradise where they can spend their leisure time for fun. We also offer free shipping on orders over $36. After a few clicks on our site, their jewelry will be sent to them. If they would like to exchange an order and try something else on, no problem--just send them back and we are happy to help and even provide style advice. By joining our loyalty program, customers will also get free secret jewelry gifts from us. There are many easy ways to collect points.

However, we do not want to limit our products only to e-commerce. We also welcome local retailers to carry our adorable jewelry so that more people are able to enjoy the fun that jewelry can bring to us. For information about wholesale, please contact us at http://wwander.com/pages/wholesale.

4. Why is jewelry so pricey, and how are you able to offer more affordable pieces?

Jewelry is usually very pricey. There are many factors that cause this to happen, including labor cost, material cost, middle-man agency cost, operating cost, etc. We strive hard to manage our operating and labor costs by seeking advanced ways to improve efficiency. Nowadays, there are still plenty of jewelry companies that are performing in the old fashioned style to conduct business. In order to better meet the need of the market, businesses should always challenge themselves and bring real benefit to their customers. All pieces are directly from our partner factories, no middle-man agencies. In addition, our partner factories are leading jewelry manufacturers in the industry, and they are able to obtain quality material with an incomparable price.

We believe adorable jewelry should be for everyone. It also should be affordable and easy to find. A lower price point does not mean lowering your expectation on quality and design. We strive hard to cut down various cost burdens in order to achieve high quality and trendy jewelry design while offering an affordable price point!

5. In your personal opinion, what makes jewelry so important to fashion?

Clothing and accessories are two major elements and categories in fashion. Due to high gross margin, so many fashion labels are competing in the clothing sector. Yet only a few companies would like to position themselves in the jewelry niche.

Jewelry and clothing are both important to fashion. However, accessories are a little different from clothing, which is necessary for human beings such as food and shelter. Jewelry is an additional complement. It's more entertaining and spiritual, representing each individual's lifestyle and appreciation toward beautiful objects. We hope to make Wonder Wander a style shop for people to collect their favorite pieces. We believe fashion will change people's exterior "look" and interior emotion with their personal lifestyle and attitude.

Thanks, Kate!

Introducing SmartMobilePhones.net, a Source for Phones and Accessories

Personally, I find choosing a mobile phone to be one of the bigger shopping challenges of modern life. How do you know which phone is best for your personal needs? Where can you easily compare the prices and features of different phones? I'm appreciative for sites like Smart Mobile Phones which put all the popular phones and accessories into one easy-to-browse place.

The owners of Smart Mobile Phones created their site to offer a "customer-friendly" experience for people looking for smart phones, specifically iPhones and Android phones. You can contact the site owners if you have questions, comments, etc. This is a newer site, and I get the impression that the owners are going to be responsive to customer feedback as they continue to grow the site, so if you have input, let them know!

The site gives you a lot of good prices on smart phones, and you can compare prices and features to find the deal that works best for you. When it comes to iPhones especially, prices can vary depending on the cell service provider, so it's useful to see the different options brought together on a single page. And with Android phones, different manufacturers have created phones that offer a variety of looks, capabilities, and more. It really does help when a site like this presents your options all together.

Smart Mobile Phones is seamlessly integrated with Amazon to offer easy ordering as well as access to additional information like customer reviews. It's a smooth and simple way to shop for phones and phone accessories!