Such a Deal for You... And Me!!

So, I've been trying to think of some kind of fun promotion to do with my hats... and I realized I don't have many photos of kids "modeling" buttonbox hats (other than my own kids, and a few done by a photographer friend of mine).  A friend sent me some GORGEOUS pictures of her youngest wearing his hat, and the pictures were so great I asked for permission to use them on my Etsy site.  So here's what I'm thinking of for a promotion...

Send me pictures of your kids wearing buttonbox hats that I've created.  IF I choose to use the pictures you will receive a gift certificate for 50% off your next purchase of one hat.

The requirements of the photo must be that it is: 

• "professional" quality (no, you don't need to be a professional photographer, but it does need to have that certain "je ne sais quoi") 
• ready to use (no touch ups required, as I'm a low-maitenance, low-tech kind of gal) 
• features the buttonbox hat not just your child (I know your kids are beautiful!)
• and I must have your full permission to use the picture as I choose (that means on facebook, etsy, here on my blog, or possibly printed and framed for display at any shows I am involved in).  I understand that these are your children in the pictures, and I promise you that I will never use the photos in any manner that would compromise you or your child's integrity or privacy.
• you may enter more than one photo, but you will only be eligible for one certificate per style of hat.  (ie. You can submit three photos of three different styles of hat and be eligible for three different discounts)

You may submit your photos to me by email (jckinnib[!]telus.net).  I will respond to you via email, and if I choose to use your photo I will send along a photo release form.  After you have returned that to me (again, via email), I will send you a gift certificate for 50% off the price of one hat.  Whether or not I use your photo is up to my discretion, and you will receive the gift certificate only if I choose to use your photo.

I'm super excited to see what you all send me!  Here are a few pics my friend sent me of her little one that inspired this promotion...

New Things

In December I got an early Christmas present in the mail one day.  I found out that I'll be showing at Creative Chaos in Vernon in June again this year.  It was a such a fabulous way to connect with families in my area, and to get my product and business name out there!  I'm very much looking forward to the show this June, especially since I have a little experience now, and know a little of what to expect.  I had set some pretty outlandish goals for myself and what I wanted to take to the show last year, and had to keep editing and editing my lofty ambitions for new designs and product.  Building display racks and printing off cards to display product on, and finishing touches kept me away from accomplishing all I had dreamed of.  But this year is a different story.  I have all the displays built already (thanks to my hubby!), and I've already been working on new designs, so now I'm ready to "mass produce" them (at the incredible speed of one hat per evening... or two, depending on the size).

 

I definitely still welcome custom orders at anytime, but in the next couple months, there may be a lot more to buttonboxdesigns than hats and flowers! 

I've been featured!

One of the things I love about having a shop on Etsy, is the team that I've joined to help connect with other crafters and artisans.  The Oh Canada Team is a supportive group of Canadian shop-owners that strive to promote one another, offer advice and encouragement, and sometimes we even do All-Canadian Sales together.  If you like to shop local and love handmade items check out the team's blog, or catch us on Facebook, or try typing in "ohcanadateam" in the search engines on Etsy.  I've thoroughly enjoyed being a part of this team, and so, was super pleased the other day to receive word that one of my fellow teamsters had featured my shop on her blog!  Please check it out Ginger Urchin's blog.

An Assortment of Ramblings

Yikes!  Can I just say that my little man keeps me busy?  If he is out of sight, he is definitely into some mischief.  I have a girlfriend who has been watching the kids a little bit here and there, and she is always commenting on how quickly he moves.  Welcome to my world! 

Naptime is the best time of day, isn't it?  Its the only guaranteed stretch of quiet during the day (other than bedtime... oh, bliss!) where I can sit down and catch up on phone calls, emails, eating, cleaning... all the things I never have time for.  Bedtime quiet is reserved for crocheting right now as I'm preparing for the Vernon Baby & Tot Show next month.  So, naptime, is my catch up time... and look at me!  I'm actually blogging! 

Here's a couple pictures from the early birthday celebration we had last weekend when Jeremy's parents and grandparents were out for a visit!

All the grandparents and great grandparents, except for Roscoe's namesake; Grandpa Kinniburgh

 

Well, its time to run.  I have a game of Shrek monopoly that I'm being asked to play!  Cheers!

Yay September!

So, I started working in Kids Ministry at my church in May, and in between being a full-time mom, summertime, crocheting (very little), and running summer ministries for K-Gr 5 kids, I have been planning and dreaming for the Fall.  In August I gained a new partner at the church, Amy, who is working full-time (I'm part-time), and we have been planning, and training, and prepping, and dreaming, and painting, and typing, and recruiting like crazy women!  But, this weekend... is the weekend.  Our Fall Kickoff for VAC Kids (www.vernonalliance.org/home/ministries/families/vac_kids/)!  Hooray!  We don't have enough volunteers yet (as if you can ever have enough!), and we didn't get a stage or set built yet (there's always next month), but its coming together and I'm so excited!
At the same time, I am working on another local order for Chicken Little.  Apparently my hats have been selling like hot-cakes.  I've even had a local mom email to say how much she loves the hat, and would I make one for her!  So neat!  Jeremy and I have been debating whether or not I should have a booth at a local Christmas fair, but I don't really want to.  I love being out in the community, connecting with my clients, but its a big sacrifice to stand around for two days, especially when I have been doing so well with custom orders, and selling through local shops.  So, I think for this year, I won't do the Christmas fairs.
However, as I mentioned I am still doing custom orders, by email or on my Etsy site (www.buttonboxdesigns.etsy.com), and I picked up some new yarn yesterday to work on some new fall-themed designs.  Last night I made Aria a cute little beret with some pink bamboo yarn that I had in my stash.  I just have to put the finishing touches on it, then I'll photograph it, and post them online here.  I've wanted to develop a design for a beret for awhile, and I'm super pleased with how it turned out, and how quickly it worked up (considering I was designing as I went, which often means I end up pulling out rows as I go if I don't like how its looking!).  A couple of my girlfriends are having babes this fall, so they'll probably be the recipients of my first fall hat designs.
I love the Fall.  After the heat of the summer in the Okanagan, the cool, crisp air of the fall is always welcome and so fun to go out walking in!  Aria starts preschool again next week, and I'm excited to have an excuse for walking to and from the school to pick her up.  Ballet starts up next week as well.  Every morning she asks me how many more sleeps until preschool?  How many more sleeps until ballet?  The countdown is on!