Tuesday, August 18, 2009

Crafty Mama week 3 + 3rd Giveaway!

Amanda from My Giggly Monkey won the laundry detergent! Thanks everyone for your comments and thanks again Candace for showing us how fun it is to be a creative mommy. Today starts week 3 of Crafy Mama's Month!
Everyone, meet Rubyellen of mycakies:

Remember my birthday post about the magazine my mama gave me for my birthday? Well, this months magazine has our crafty mama, Rubyellen on the front! Be sure to check it out.
Rubyellen is the ultimate crafty mama. She has her own etsy shop where she makes adorable childrens items. She has two kiddos and one on the way. I hope you take the time to look at her shop and her beautiful blog!

Now onto the interview.

1. Tell us a little bit about your family, business and hobbies.
We are a little family of four, soon to be five, as my husband will be outnumbered 4 to 1. My husband, Ben, is a dietitian, therefore teaching our girls, True and Brave (yes, those are their real names), healthy eating habits is very important. My daughter True can happily eat bell peppers morning, noon, and night. We all love just being together and making memories together. We call our making memories and constant snapping of pictures, memory hunting, So I guess you can say we always go hunting together. My little cottage business is called Cakies . It is where I sell fun, felt accessories and crowns , as well as other items that I feel like making. These items are called once-in-awhiles . It is absolutely fantastic to have this outlet and to be able to share it and have others enjoy it. Creating is such an essential part of my life and I am just blessed that I have been able to have a little shop stem from it. On my free time, if/when I have it, I still like to create. I am also an avid reader, but reading for me is dangerous. Once I get a good book in my hands, I can't put it down, so everything in my household is thrown by the wayside. Therefore, I must always be strategic in when I decide to pick up a good book. It must always be a time when there is not much to do, but with two toddlers, how often does that happen?!!



2.How do you include your family in your crafting fun?
If I am embroidering, I will have True sit right by me and give her a plastic needle and hoop and let her embroider right beside me. Often times, I will ask her what toy she wants to make and then we will set off to make it. We have made bunnies, dolls, kitchen ware, etc., but best of all it is all homemade using things that we already have. We also have a family sketchbook that sits at our coffee table, so it is there right beside some colored pencils to encourage constant doodling in our house. You can find us all huddled around the large sketchbook, coloring and drawing away!




3. How has being a "crafty mama" enhanced you and your families lives?

For one, I think it saves a lot of money. We all learn to be resourceful and use our imagination. We rarely ever buy toys, but think of ways to make it. I think there is more of an appreciation for things when you have to go through the process of making it. Secondly, we all love thinking out of the box. It is fun and challenging, and it lends for nice surprises for any occasion. I will never forget what my husband did for this past Mother's Day . It was just hilarious and a perfect example of thinking out of the box.

4. What is your all-time favorite craft or project that you have made?

I recently made a giant dollhouse pillow for my daughter Brave. Now, that was a definite challenge, but so worth it at the end. Now, I am thinking about how I can make something similar, but different, for True.



5. Do you have any tips for mama's who would like to get in on the creative fun but just can't seem to find the time or money?
Money is not necessary to get creative. It is all about just using what you already have. If you have some old sheets or old clothes that aren't being used or worn, those can definitely be turned into something more useful. Like I said, it is all about thinking outside of the box. If you need some help with the creative part, just start reading blogs. There are so many wonderfully creative people out there, that reading their adventures will for sure jump start the creative bug in you!

6. What is your all-time favorite dessert?
Oh boy! Is my husband reading this? Well, then, my answer is vegetables. Okay, seriously. I love chocolate. Anything with chocolate


GIVEAWAY #3

Post a comment about Rubyellen for a chance to win this splatter-dyed hand-dyed baby onesie. This onesie is perfect for a girl or boy and if you don't have a baby, it would make a great gift. Size 3-6 months. Winner will be chosen at random and posted on my blog next week.



7 comments:

Clifford Jeffery said...

Oh I wanna win this one!!!! This weeks interview was my favorite so far. I only wish I had a tiny fraction of her creativity!!!! My goodness. Those were great pics to accompany the interview.

Aimee Mayer said...

I think once life settles down a bit (will it ever???) I might be able to express some of my creativity. Maybe if this baby arrives and I still don't have a job, and then I'll stay at home. Maybe then I'll come up with a way to do some of this!

Rubyellen said...

thanks you so much!!! xoxo

Unknown said...

Thoroughly enjoy reading Cakies blog and enjoyed your interview with her. Her crowns inspired me to do a birthday one for my daughter and she loved it! Thanks again!

mrs.adrienneK said...

oh i love my cakies!! every post makes my heart happy!!!
xoxo
adrienne K

Crazy Shenanigans-JMO said...

Wow! Super crafty! I wish I could be that craft savy!

Jamie said...

My cakies is my favorite blog. I just love Rubyellen's crafts. I find her totally inspiring!!! Super cute onesie!