Sunday Brunch Special: Lil' Sugarplum

1. Tell us a little bit about yourself and your indie business.
My name is Monique and I feel so blessed to be a stay at home mommy to my two beautiful children! The business idea came shortly after my daughter was born. I was able to create a hair clip that doesn't fall out of a baby's hair even if they only have a few strands. I also make clips for toddlers and girls. I feel so lucky to have had the ability to start my own business while raising my kids. I'm really enjoying life to the fullest.

2. Where are you located?
Online and I ship internationally too!

3. How did you come up with your business name?
My dad always affectionately calls my sister and I "Sugarplum" since we were in diapers.

4. Where do you sell your products?
Online at my website www.LilSugarplum.com.

5. Do you belong to any local and/or web groups or affiliations?
No (for lack of time).

6. Have any marketing or business tips you’d like to share?
Network as much as you can, you never know where it may lead to!

7. What would be your dream job?
I am living my dream job! I'm a stay at home mom to my two beautiful children and I started a side business on my own. How blessed am I!

8. What’s the most difficult aspect of running your biz?
Not enough time to unleash all my creativity!

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

1. What is your favorite meal?
Dinner --- fresh vegetables and fruit!

2. Do you prefer tea or coffee?
Both sound good, depends on my mood but I don't drink caffeine so I'm a decaf girl. :-)

Saturday: A simple Tree pendant

Such a simple idea but the result is just gorgeous. Funky papers decoupaged onto masonite make up the fun pendants at Madison Craft Studio. I really like this mod tree one.

Friday Fish Fry: Whale of a painting

Need a darling gift for a little girl or boy? Check out the beautiful artwork at CuddleBugs Art. I'm partial to this sweet mommy & baby whale playfully swimming in the sea. Make it even more special ~ get it personalized.

Thursday: Kimono cosmetic case

Isn't this the coolest little cosmetics bag? I love the kimono print fabric and the detail is amazing. Find it at Studio Globe.

Wednesday: rosehips

What a gorgeous cut-out necklace we have here! Delicate yet strong - i adore it :) Find it at Anabella Designs.

Tuesday: Be a Super Hero!

Every kid wants to be a Super Hero. This cape will help him/her reach that goal! Find it at SuperFlyKidz.

Monday: Yoga mat bag...

As soon as I start taking yoga (and I will!, it's on my list of things to do this year ;-), I'll need a bag like this for my yoga mat. Find it at small city styles.

Sunday Brunch Special: Lindsay's Candles & Stuff

1. Tell us a little bit about yourself and your indie business.
Hi! My name is Lindsay Green & I own Lindsay’s Candles & Stuff. I make scented candles, soaps and bath & body products. I started Lindsay’s Candles & Stuff back in September 2004, while I was still in college. I had been making candles for 10 months at that point & figured people liked them, why not sell them! Soap & bath & body products entered the product line shortly after, once I had enough time to test them all out personally.

2. Where are you located?
Pickering, Ontario, Canada

3. How did you come up with your business name?
I came up with it one night when I was lying in bed trying to fall asleep. I seem to come up with lots of things like that!

4. Where do you sell your products?
I sell them through my own website www.lindsayscandles.com as well as through 2 other local shops. We are currently looking for new wholesale partners.

5. Do you belong to any local and/or web groups or affiliations?
I belong to The Switchboards as well as some other message boards for candle & soap making.

6. Read any good books lately?
Yes! I’ve really enjoyed the past 3 books I’ve read – A Million Little Pieces & My Friend Leonard both by James Frey and more recently Wild Orchid by Beverley Brenna, it’s written from the point of view of an 18-year old girl with Aspergers Syndrome, which was interesting seeing as my day job is working with children with special needs.

7. When you’re not making things, what do you do?
I work for the school board as an Educational Assistant. I also enjoy scrapbooking!

8. What would be your dream job?
To be a foster parent & bump up production with Lindsay’s Candles & Stuff.

10. What’s your favorite color?
Pink! With blue/teal running close behind.

11. What’s the most difficult aspect of running your biz?
Keeping all of the paperwork up to date. It’s definitely the most boring part!

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

1. What is your favorite meal?
Any sort with pasta, tomato & chicken!

2. Do you prefer tea or coffee?
Definitely tea!

Saturday: Beach necklace

When Summer is long gone and you miss all the glorious things about it...sand between your toes, finding seashells on the shore and my favorite, beach glass...you will have this gorgeous necklace to remind you that Summer will come again :) Find it at Beadkeepers.

Friday Fish Fry: Amigurumi pattern

Hey, it looks just like the cracker, no??? I just love him. If only I knew how to crochet! Find this adorable Goldfish Amigurumi pattern and others at AmyGaines.

Thursday: Mixed media

There is something about Rachel Austin's work that really appeals to me. I'm sure it has to do with the cool texture of her paintings and that they often feature the simple, yet amazing paper airplaine. They also all begin with a map underneath as a base. Very cool. Find this one and others at Rachel Austin.

Wednesday: Happy 4th of July

How about a bunch of patriotic little stars for the 4th of July??? Aren't they just adorable...tiny origami good luck stars made of paper and miraculously folded into bitty stars. Find them at origami hearts.

Tuesday: Gorgeous fabric!

OK, so I'm in awe of the fact that someone screenprints their own fabric! And it's gorgeous! I could hardly decide which print to feature but I think this riverstone design is my fave. Check it out at Kirin & Co..

Monday: Brighten up your meal...

These stylish napkins are just the thing to brighten up your meal. A gorgeous shade of turquoise linen with chocolate brown curly trees. Very spiffy! Find them at Michelle Brusegaard.

Sunday Brunch Special: Midnight Firefly

1. Tell us a little bit about yourself and your indie business.
My business is Midnight Firefly and I create one of a kind jewelry from sterling silver, gold, and semiprecious stones. My background is in graphic design and fine art and I feel that this, along with nature inspires many of my ideas.

2. Where are you located?
Western Massachusetts

3. How did you come up with your business name?
Midnight Firefly actually comes from lyrics of a Sarah McLachlan song that struck me; "Your eyes like midnight fireflies light up the trenches where my heart lies". Not only did the words sound beautiful together, but it was such a stunning visual. The meaning has transformed for me as I've had the business and I think that it's come to describe myself and my customers; a creature that may seem completely commonplace but is beautiful and exquisite because of the effect it has on it's surroundings.

4. Where do you sell your products?
www.midnightfirefly.com

5. Do you belong to any local and/or web groups or affiliations?
Western Massachusetts Artists Association

6. Read any good books lately?
I just finished the most amazing book, "The Time Travelers Wife". It's not really science-fiction as the title suggests, although the main character does travel through time. The book truely demonstrates the character and bond of true love, while giving the reader an appreciation for the here and now. It really forces you to think about the sequence of events in your life, and how they relate to each other.

7. When you’re not making things, what do you do?
Other than designing jewelry, I am also a freelance graphic designer. You can see some of my design work at www.amdesignworks.com.
In my free time, I like to spend time with my fiance. I enjoy going hiking or to the beach when the weather is nice. I love to watch movies and to read. I love anything involved with art. I could spend an entire day in a museum and love walking through galleries.


8. What’s your favorite color?
Many people argue about this with me, but my favorite color is brown. I've been told that brown is not a color and I have to choose something else, but there's something about a good chocolate brown. It has depth and richness, and next to any other color it just seems to pop to life.

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

1. What is your favorite meal?
I love food, it'd be so hard to pick just one, it really depends on my mood. My recent favorite has been calamari with garlic and banana peppers. I think I could eat that every day for the next week.

2. Do you prefer tea or coffee?
I love a good cup of coffee, it's like a spiritual experience for me.