Saturday: Ultimate Tot Spot

This mini-sleeping bag/nap mat would be great for daycare, naptime at home or just for lounging. Pillow and blanket is attached and rolls up when not in use. Fabulous! Find it at The Tot Spot.

Friday: A Card AND Chocolate!

Being the chocoholic that I am, the idea of getting a card AND a sweet piece of chocolate makes me very happy. :) A big applause to this etsy seller! YAY! Find them at Zaffron.

Thursday: Spice up your kitchen

100% cotton kitchen towels with block printed birds. Sweet :) Find them at art goodies.

Wednesday: Gorgeous tote

This etsy seller has fabulous style If I could make bags like this, I would use this style fabric. I love the colors in this bag. Find it at Marymo Handmade.

Tuesday: Olive this bag...

I love the big bold design on this messenger bag...looks like olives, no? Find it at Bliss by Heather.

Monday: Yummy cookies

I love all felt food but these take the cake...uh...cookie! You get a half dozen frosted, sprinkled yummy cookies in a darling little cookie jar. What could be sweeter? Find them at Nana Company.

Sunday Brunch Special: Foster's Creations

1. Tell us a little bit about yourself and your indie business.
I began in 1995 making silk wedding flowers (after making them for my own wedding) and brochures. I began cake decorating in 1997, baking has always been relaxing for me. Decorating cakes is a creative outlet for me. They not only look amazing they taste amazing. I have always enjoyed web design and began doing that in 1997 as well as logo design. In 2000 I wanted to make soap for my family for Christmas but all that was available locally were some kits that were not the best quality. So I hit the internet and started searching. I found a wonderful fragrance oil vendor yahoo group that was offering classes. The first class was a cream class and I was hooked and that is how our Bath and Body line began. It has blossomed considerably since 2001. My jewelry line was created in the fall of 2006 while recuperating from surgery for Uterine Cancer. I needed something to do during the 8 week recovery time and jewelry making helped me pass the time. I created an awareness line of beaded bookmarks, bracelets, earrings and key chains.

2. Where are you located?
Clinton, Iowa.

3. How did you come up with your business name?
I was told many years ago that having your name in your business makes it less likely to be taken by someone else. I chose to add Creations so that it wouldn't limit me to one thing. I started out doing silk flowers for weddings and graphics design. It expanded from there.

4. Where do you sell your products?
I do home parties, craft shows and sell my products on my webpage, www.fosterscreations.us.

5. Do you belong to any local and/or web groups or affiliations?
Member of the Clinton Iowa Chamber of Commerce, I am chair of their Small Business Committee and Co-Chair of the Women In Business Committee.

6. When you’re not making things, what do you do?
I am always doing something, whether it is making bath and body products, coming up with new scent blends, making new jewelry items or working on my website or doing work on my clients sites.

7. Do you ever get stumped for ideas? How do you work through it?
I often get stumped coming up with new scent blend names. I often turn to my customers for help in naming my new blends.

8. What would be your dream job?
I am doing my dream job. The only thing that would make it better would be if my hubby could work from home with me.

9. Do you have any quirks or obsessions you care to share?
I love working in my fuzzy pink ribbon slippers.

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

1. What is your favorite meal? Chicken Alfredo (from our local Italian restaurant)

2. Do you prefer tea or coffee? I enjoy both equally.

A great big Thank You to Shannon of Foster's Creations for the great interview.

Saturday: Darling tooth fairy box

Imagine how much easier it will be for the tooth fairy to find the tooth in this darling box as opposed to digging under the pillow ;-) Comes with a golden pillow with a special spot for the cash-worthy tooth and the story of the tooth fairy. Find it at California Cat.

Friday: Dragonflyin' away

I absolutely adore this print. I "think" it's my favorite but really, I love all of the illustrations by dkim art.

Thursday: Beautiful bird

Cool retro bird notecard. I love all of this seller's cards...beautiful work. Find it at 12fifteen.

Wednesday: An appetite for apatite

I am truly in love with these earrings. That gorgeous deep blue, omg! Mixed with peridot and rustic silver. YUM!!! Find them at I'veGotBeads.

Tuesday: Happy Hermits

I love, love this print. They are harvesting nectar while being spied on by some hungry looking animals. Find it at apakshop.

Monday: Yeehaw, Cowboy

Check out this darling reversible sun hat with cool, retro cowboys, for your little guy. Find it at Huckleberry Baby.

Sunday Brunch Special: Hana Lynn Jewelry

1. Tell us a little bit about yourself and your indie business.
My name is Julie Shields. I'm the Owner and Jewelry Designer behind the online e-shop Hana Lynn Jewelry. Hana Lynn Jewelry features original, exclusive jewelry designs incorporating only choice materials such as quality precious and semi-precious gemstone beads, precious metals, fine artisan pieces, unique vintage components, premium freshwater/cultured pearls, Swarovski crystal and artistic glass. Almost all of my designs are one time only creations. So, each piece that is purchased is the ONLY one just like it.

2. Where are you located?
Well, I relocated from sunny Dallas, Texas to beautiful British Columbia, Canada almost 5 years ago. I currently live here with my Canadian husband and 2 little spoiled rotten kitty-cats. However, I'm very proud to be an "All American Girl" and absolutely love it whenever I am able get back to the good old U.S. of A.

3. How did you come up with your business name?
My grandmother was Japanese. Much like myself, she left her familiar home and country to live and adapt in another country for love. She always loved puttering around in her garden with her flowers and also loved jewelry. She used to love to take me back to her room to show me her costume jewelry, and she often picked up little neat pieces for me at garage and estate sales. She was the only grandmother I ever knew. She passed away a couple of years ago, and it moved me to decide to pursue my jewelry designing dream. My business and site are dedicated to her. "Hana" means flower in Japanese, and "Lynn" is an English word for cascade or waterfall. It's a bit of a "tribute" to the bravery found in my mixed racial background and my grandmother.

4. Where do you sell your products?
I currently only run my jewelry business online www.hanalynn.com. However, I do have a couple of "brick and mortar" retail locations that have purchased several of my designs for sale in their boutiques. Those locations are listed at my web shop under the "Retailers" section. I'm very choosy about where I choose to place my designs, but I hope to add a few more nice physical locations in the near future.

5. Do you belong to any local and/or web groups or affiliations?
I am always checking out the many fabulous fashion, art, jewelry and crafty forums online. I am a member of several. I feel it's extremely important to keep up with the latest trends and to constantly learn, grow and progress in my craft. Not to mention, there are some truly inspiring artists and designers out there! I love having the opportunity to associate with them.

6. When you’re not making things, what do you do?
Well, I work a full-time day job M-F as an Office Manager/HR Administrator. But, besides that, I'm very interested in web design lately. So, when I'm not working my "day job", designing jewelry, taking care of other aspects of my business or watching my current favorite show, "Heroes", I'm teaching myself web design.

7. What’s your favorite color?
I have different favorite colors for different things. It's hard to just pick one. I love all kinds of colors. I really like trying different color combinations in my jewelry designs and finally finding those stunning contrasts that create something striking and "perfect"... so much fun!

8. What’s the most difficult aspect of running your biz?
I just love the creative part of my business, but... UGH... I agonize over anything that involves numbers. Math has never been any fun for me.

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

1. What is your favorite meal?
Mmm... I love Oriental stir fry.... or just about any Tex-Mex food!

2. Do you prefer tea or coffee?
I'm a huge Green Tea drinker... I try to have at least 2 cups per day. I also love Chai Tea.

A big THANK YOU to Julie of Hana Lynn Jewelry for the great Sunday Brunch interview!

Saturday: HAPPY ST. PATRICK'S DAY

Need some green for St. Pat's Day? How about these gorgeous earrings from pulp tart jewelry at my favorite shopping place, etsy.