giveaway: sweet & simple jewelry

Hello & Happy day to you. I can't think of a better way to kick off the cyber Monday shopping experience than with a friendly reminder to buy handmade and a super sweet giveaway! Allow me to introduce Kelly, a local Minnesota girl, mama of 3, who is also a nurse (!), and runs a darling jewelry shop called Sweet&Simple in her precious spare time. I absolutely adore all of the vintage, feminine details here. Her work is nothing but lovely eye candy--the words sweet + simple sum it up with perfection. A select number of items in her shop currently include free shipping, so be sure to snag them!

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This week, Kelly is kindly giving away this sparrow necklace to one lucky lady! Wouldn't it look splendid with a Christmas cardigan? Or wrapped under the tree for a sweet girly-girl in your life? There are 3 ways to enter:

* Visit SweetSimple and leave a comment sharing your favorite piece.
* Leave a comment linking to an irresistible cyber Monday/holiday sale. {Kudos if it's handmade stuff!}
* Become a follower of Living the Swell Life then leave a comment stating you took the plunge.

Giveaway ends Friday Dec. 12/3, when the winner will be randomly selected and announced.

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Q|A with Kelly:

1. How did Sweet & Simple get its start?
I started Sweet & Simple a few years ago after doing a few small craft shows with my jewelry . I decided to try Etsy and have been very pleased with it.

2. Describe your perfect day.
My perfect day is waking up to a quiet house before my boys and husband wake up and enjoy a cup of coffee while browsing Etsy and checking orders. I get my kids off to school and enjoy the day with my 3 year old son and work on jewelry that needs to be shipped. I love just hanging out at home and crafting away, especially on these cold Minnesota days. Oh, and I also love my other job, working as a part time nurse at the local hospital, my true calling.

3. Your jewelry pieces are all so fresh and lovely. Where do you find your inspiration?
I find inspiration everywhere. I will wake up in the morning sometimes with a design in my head and have to quick draw a picture before I forget it. I LOVE to use vintage pieces as much as I can and if a piece can't be made with vintage components then I try to make it look old. My favorite metal to use is antique silver, it is so versatile.

4. What advice do you have for fellow crafters and small business owners?
Keep it simple and take your time. It takes time to build a business and it is very difficult sometimes to find a healthy balance....I am still working on this.
If you are going to sell online, invest in a good camera. Pictures are so important and help sell your item.

5. Where can we find more of your work?
If you live in Minnesota, I will have jewelry displayed at Tis the Season Boutique in Chaska during the first two weekends of December.
I have jewelry in a few shops in Northern Minnesota and will be at Little Falls Craft Festival Next September.
Also on facebook!