Wednesday: Pillow Cover

Do your pillows need a little snazzing up? This awesome cotton pillow cover has a cool screen printed design of summer weeds in a gorgeous shade of smoky blue. Find it at skinny laminx.

Tuesday: Beeswax Bird

How unique! I can just picture this sweet little bird sitting on my bookshelf or on my windowsill. He even has a glittering crown. Find him at Jennifer Conway.

Monday: Oh, my favorite flower

I absolutely adore daisies. They are my favorite flower...so simple and sweet. This 3x3 print of beautiful daisies is mounted on a recycled barn-wood frame. Find it at Rebecca Tolk Photography.

Sunday Brunch Special: Plays with Mud

1. Tell us a little bit about yourself and your indie business.
I've always been fascinated by the "finished product." The process of taking raw materials and turning them into something tangible and functional is so inspiring; the fact that a big chunk of clay can be morphed into a beautiful bowl is just so cool.
Plays With Mud is a collection of all the things I love to make. Pottery, belts, paper goods ... you name it, I've probably made it. Right now, I make a lot of custom gifts for people. I love it when someone comes to me and asks if I could make a birthday gift for their friend, or a Christmas present for their mom. It totally makes my day!

2. Where are you located?
Plays With Mud is in the growing township of Fort Mill, South Carolina, just outside of Charlotte, North Carolina.

3. How did you come up with your business name?
I wanted something that was fun and playful ... not too serious but still indicative of the products that I create. At the time I came up with the name, I was getting a lot of requests for my pottery pieces. I wanted something that was memorable, and I searched far and wide for a URL address that was available. Plays With Mud reminded me of the notes you got from your teacher in grade school ... plays well with others, runs with scissors, etc. Although my product line has evolved to include fabric and paper goods, I believe that the fun and playfulness of my business name is still captured in the work that I do.

4. Where do you sell your products?
While I'm anticipating some future retail partnerships, currently my products are sold through my website www.playswithmud.com. I recently listed some one-of-a-kind (and quite cute) bookmarks on Etsy www.etsy.com/playswithmud.

5. Do you belong to any local and/or web groups or affiliations?
I am a proud member of the Charlotte Craft Mafia, an affiliate of the larger and original Austin Craft Mafia. I participate in several online forums for independent businesses, my favorite of which is The Switchboards.

6. What inspires you?
So many things. Sorting through and organizing all my supplies; walking through the craft store; taking a field trip to the fabric store (MECCA!!); reading crafty blogs; spending time with other crafty folk; visiting and vending at craft and art shows. I have a very large sketchbook that contains more ideas than I'll ever have time to work on. I love reading about how other designers have started their businesses and what motivates them to continue.

7. What would be your dream job?
While building and maintaining Plays With Mud would be my dream job, I would "settle" to be a designer at a large-scale craft manufacturer; developing new product ideas, new designs, and new uses for old products. Crafty ideas + corporate benefits = Paula's dream job.

8. Do you have any quirks or obsessions you care to share?
One of my quirks is that I don't have any "favorites." It seems so finite for me to choose one thing over the other. I have "preferences," but it's always been challenging for me to answer those emails or surveys that come around asking for your favorite food or color, etc.

Ok, now these two are mandatory and I have to ask (this being a diner, after all)

1. What is your favorite meal?
Ok, I'm gonna have to negate my earlier comment about not having any favorites with these next two questions!! :-)
Hands down, my hubby's grilled shrimp and scallops. He uses this (top secret) seasoning that we got when we were honeymooning in the BVIs. I can't order shrimp in restaurants anymore because it's always a disappointment when compared to his version!

2. Do you prefer tea or coffee?
This is a tough one - I love love love my coffee in the morning, but I hate being a slave to caffeine; I switched to decaf for a while, but really, what's the point?? Then again, there's something so relaxing and peaceful about enjoying a cup of tea in the afternoon. Again with the favorites ... can I have both? :-)

Saturday: Recycled Market Bag

I've always loved the idea of these bags made from recycled plastic grocery bags. So much better than having them end up in the landfill. Find these at Crafty Kathi.

Friday Fish Fry: Fish Mirror

Everyone should have a mirror in their purse, right? Why not this very cute fishy one? Find it at Miss Bella's Room.

Thursday: A Birdie Thank You

I love this Thank You card. It has birds...need I say more? Find it and other lovely greeting cards at Empty George.

Wednesday: Girls Best Friend Wallet

Looking for a new wallet? Well, here's one that will fit the bill ;) Lots of places to keep all your cash, cards & more. Find it at Jenna Lou.

Tuesday: Fun for the Fridge!

I'm diggin' these very unique magnets. The design is a ginkgo leaf on polymer clay, painted, then distressed. Find them at Block Party Press.

Monday: Leather Journal

Keep your deepest, darkest secrets or your wildest thoughts & dreams in this gorgeous mint green leather journal. What a treasure. Find it at KreativLink.

Sunday Brunch Special: Lana Kessler Pottery

1. Tell us a little bit about yourself and your indie business.
I’m a Brooklyn born potter who has resided in New Jersey for over 35 years . I’m married and have two grown children. I have a B A degree in graphic design and I have been a potter for the past ten years, Although I do functional work, my true love is in alternative firing. (raku and smoke fire)

2. Where are you located?
Manalapan in Monmouth County, New Jersey

3. How did you come up with your business name?
I use my name only

4. Where do you sell your products?
My pots have been shown in Evolve in Fair Haven, NJ and The Moon and Sixpence in Spring Lake, NJ. and other local galleries. I had an invitational one-woman month-long show at the Monmouth County Main library for the past two years. I sell at the juried Monmouth Festival of the Arts once a year (for the past 8 years) and the State-wide Juried Art Show at the Art Alliance in Red Bank, NJ, (also the past 8 years) where I have also been an award winner. Currently I do five or six craft fairs a year and a group show with a jeweler and weaver right before Christmas season. I am currently working on a website (I was pushed into the computer age Kicking and Screaming) Lana Kessler Pottery

5. Do you belong to any local and/or web groups or affiliations?
I belong to the Arts Council (it runs the Baltimore Craft Fair and others)

6.What inspires you?
Form and shape. Ancient pottery had exquisite form and shape and I find it inspirational. I’m in love with these classic shapes and love to alter them into a modern day mode

7. When you’re not making things, what do you do?
I garden and take care of lots of stray animals, feed birds and squirrels and anything else that might stop by.

8. What would be your dream job?
It would have to be two jobs. One – clay and doing pottery and Two - taking care of stray dogs and cats. When I win the lottery (not if) I will set up a no-kill shelter staffed with vets and kind volunteers.

9. What’s the most difficult aspect of running your biz?
I hate to market myself. I could market other peoples crafts (provided I liked their work), but find it very difficult blowing my own horn.

Ok, now these two are mandatory and I have to ask (this being a diner, after all)

1 What is your favorite meal?
Breakfast – eggs, toast, etc.

2. Do you prefer tea or coffee?
Love coffee – hate tea (even though I make teapots and tea sets)

Saturday: Cool water

This gorgeous necklace reminds me of a day at the ocean. It's so cool and refreshing. Maybe it's the amazing white jade or the awesome brushed metal tab. I'm lovin' it! Find it at Pinkfire Designs.

Friday Fish Fry: Fish Plushie

Adorable button-dotted fish. I think the detail is fabulous. Don't let this one get away! Find him at Beehive Hairdo.

Thursday: Knitware Cups

How cool are these cups? They look like a cable knit sweater. I love them. Find them and other knitware designs at alyssa ettinger design.

Wednesday: Monster Alphabet

These prints are just so cute, even for monsters :) The whole alphabet is represented in the form of a monster. Find them at Monster Gallery.