11.29.2010

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!

36 comments:

Liz said...

I absolutely love the vintage ring with the rose on it. The pale blue one is my favorite :)

Liz said...

Looking for a good cyber monday deal? More specifically looking for a good deal on cloth diapers? Just visit Kelly's Closet: http://www.kellyscloset.com/ They are running free shipping on all purchases, plus triple reward points for members of the reward club. Oh and I forgot to mention 10%-40% off a great selection of products.

a midwestern belle said...

I love the sunny yellow bloom necklace. Can't wait to poke around Sweet and Simple for a few Christmas gifts!

Olivia said...

I love the swinging bird necklace and the love your journey one too.

Olivia said...

As far as cyber Monday deals, I'm offering 20% off the entire order, which includes anything in my shop.

Use coupon code 'BuyHandmade'

http://omooreart.etsy.com

Amy @ Lucky Number 13 said...

already a follower here! : )

Amy @ Lucky Number 13 said...

oh mannn....the swinging bird, sweet sparrow, love the journey, loving life...all so cute. love this shop!

Alivia said...

I LOVE that necklace, but I think my favorite is the pearl birdcage necklace; so sweet.

Anonymous said...

I love the mint rose ring. Thanks for introducing this great shop!

tawnya said...

I love the big snowflake locket!

Rosemariee said...

I love the Sweet And Simple Hair Pin!

Jill Turner said...

I love the vintage glass rhinestone necklace. I'm a sucker for shiny things. Great Etsy shop! XO Jill

Jill Turner said...

NY & Co. has 50% off everything + free shipping today online.

Jill Turner said...

I am a follower! XO

Anonymous said...

My favorite is the Antique Silver Mint And Ivory Flower Necklace. Love it!

Anonymous said...

My new Etsy shop, Conservative Graffiti, opened and today you can use the code: CYBERMONDAY for 15% your purchase!!

http://www.etsy.com/shop/ConservativeGraffiti

Anonymous said...

I took the plunge :-)

Nicole said...

These are beautiful!! The rings, necklaces, bobby pins... I mean seriously! Lovely!

Cherish Stockdale said...

I think the sparrow is actually my fave! it is so cute & simple!

Gin said...

Wow, Jessica! Your blog is a great inspiration and wealth of info! Thanks for sharing this artist- all of her pieces are amazing. My favorites are definitely "Love your Journey" and the snowflake locket (as the snow is so close to my heart and so far away from my body). I hope you are so well and enjoying your true winter!

Alivia said...

The Little Owl is having a cyber Monday sale!
http://www.etsy.com/shop/sbdesignz

Emily Mae said...

Totally agree about the adorable vintage feel to it! So many pieces that I would be honored to wear! My favorite has to be the either the Antique Silver Cameo Necklace or the Sparrow Necklace!

Emily Mae said...

i am a follower and so excited about this shop! So cute and amazing that she has time for it all!

Emily Mae said...

I couldn't resist leaving a comment on etsy telling Kelly how much I love her shop! So inspiring!

Mama B said...

I love the vintage style flower necklace!

Chanelle said...

It's all gorgeous! I think my favorites are the sparrow neckalace and the light blue locket. I want it all!

Anonymous said...

Hi Jessica! I love the darling Silver Filigree Flower Ring - Ivory! Really I just love all of her jewelry...great pick this week!

Thanks again for your advice on the glider chair. We ended up getting a very similar chair but from another company because they had a chocolate color that matched our nursery AND our bonus room for later use...great suggestion!


Enjoy this beautiful season with your lovely family...

Amanda said...

Gorgeous! I love everything in her shop... if I had to pick one favorite, it would be the Antique Brass Gemstone Necklace. Very unique but also definitely every-day wearable!

Cottage Mommy said...

Wow, I love all her stuff and one of my truely, true faves is the necklace she is giving away! But I really love the verdigris flower rings too! Love finding out about her shop! Thanks for sharing!

lisa said...

hi jessica! i went to st. olaf with chris and found your blog through katie's :) it's so cute, i love it! i see that you just moved to south mpls - i've lived in south since graduating from olaf and pretty much would never want to live anywhere else. i hope you guys grow to love it too :)

i just visited sweet and simple and absolutely adore the glass rings. i'm a total sucker for cocktail rings and these are perfect.

lisa said...

oh, and i followed your blog :)

littledeadmommy said...

There are so many pretty things in that shop it's hard to pick one out of the bunch. I do love the Little Sparrow Brass Necklace. It's so dainty and cute.

littledeadmommy@gmail.com

littledeadmommy said...

I'm a follower :)

littledeadmommy@gmail.com

Justine said...

What beautiful pieces of jewelry!!! ALL OF THEM! After just having a baby, I could use a little pick-me-up to my daily attire of sweatpants and t-shirts! This might me my motivation to make myself look a little nicer :)

Joanna's Journaling said...

The swinging sparrow is super cute- there are a lot of cute pieces!

Unknown said...

Hi Jessica,
I went to nursing school with your friend, Amy T., and found your blog through hers. It's so adorable! I love all of your "Meet the Maker" features :)

My favorite SweetSimple piece is the Antique Silver Amazonite And Pearl Necklace. Definitely dropping lots of hints for my hubby to shop there!