Handmade Holiday Shopping Guide ~Part 4~

I want to thank everyone for their participation in my Guide. It would not have been a success without viewers and participants. The giveaway will be posted later today!!! Don't forget to enter LOTS of great prizes available from all the sellers that participated in the guide! Today for the last addition i will be reviewing 3 sellers, Leslye Wrytes, Ayoka (Ants Accessories), and Kimsie Bold Studios. All three shops have great products, good for anyone.

First up, Ants Accessories!

1. Could you give me a little background information about you and your shop?

~I am originally from N.J. but now live in Northern California. We have a ranch way outside of town. For my "regular" work I am a freelance makeup artist. I love freelancing but sometimes there is too much time in between projects and I had to do something.So I started sewing and crocheting...A lot. Then I gave things to family and then I still had a room full of stuff. So when I discovered Etsy I was in heaven.

2. How did you get started in your craft?

~All the women in my family sew. Mom and Grandma both sew, crochet, knit..you name it. I never thought of those things as a skill. I just thought all women knew how to do these things.So when my husband bought me a new sewing machine complete with embroidery I had discovered something new, things just keep evolving from there.

3. How did you come up with your shop name?

~My shop name is a sore spot for me. My website which focus's on my makeup work, is called AntsPlace and AntsAccessories just came up as sort of a sister name.I have been trying for something more original for a long time and just haven't come up with something better yet.

4. How long have you been doing your craft?

~I have been crocheting since I was a teenager. But the embroidery and designing my own items has only been for about 3 years.

5. Where else can we find you?

~We are on both facebook http://su.pr/1apMKaand twitter http://www.twitter.com/antsaccessoriesantsaccessories

From Ants Accessories I received a lovely crochet hair scrunchy. Its great for the holidays, green with little silver bells on the end. Its made from a really soft yarn as well. Shipping was really fast and the product was safely packed for shipping. She offers a wide variety in her shop, items such as embroidered hand towels, coin purses, pin cushions, bags and much more! Take a look!

Next up, Kimsie Bold Studios

1. Could you give me a little background information about you and your shop.

~Professionally, I have been in the design field for about 17 years... but have been creative my entire life! Even as a little girl, I knew what I wanted to do when I grew up! While other kids were watching TV or playing sports, I would draw, write stories and illustrate my own books. I remember winning poster contests and thinking, I didn't even really try that hard! My profession in the design field has kept me inspired on a daily basis. I do work full-time in corporate USA at a design firm but still need to scratch my creative itch and on a personal basis. So, in my spare time I like to illustrate, use my creative skills and let my individual style come out. I like to freehand my illustrations and get back to the "basics" of drawing as much as I like to digitally design. As I turned 40 years old recently, I have started to think about my next phase in life and set some goals around my illustrations. So my Etsy shop was a starting point and a place that I can do something with my art instead of letting it pile up. I have been adding new illustrations and setting up shop as quickly as I have the time. I have been introduced to a whole new creative world since the beginning of fall and I LOVE it!

2. How did you get started in your craft?

~I have always drawn my entire life.

3. How did you come up with your shop name?

~It is my name, except for the studio. I did add the tagline, Illustrations and Creations. I do have a lot of interest in woodwork as well that I plan on combining with my illustrations. I am inspired by a lot of things and don't want to just limit myself to my illustrations, even though it is my first love!

4. How long have you been doing your craft?

~About 38 years... once I could hold my crayon!

5. Where else can we find you?

~website: http://www.kimsieboldstudios.com/

~twitter: http://twitter.com/ksieboldstudios

~blog: http://www.kimsieboldstudios.blogspot.com/

From Kimsie Bold Studios I received the cutest little lion print! This little lion would be perfect for a child's room, just need to add frame to it! Shipping was super fast and efficient. The print was very well protected. Placed on a cardboard backing for shipping and covered to protect the print during shipping! Great quality print as well! Highly recommend this shop! Many other great prints available as well. Pints include, polar bears, piggies, snuggle bears, bunnies and MUCH more! Check her shop out!

Last but not least is Leslye Wrytes.

As long as she can remember, Leslye has been very thoughtful in selecting greeting cards. No matter how much she loved the artwork, the words were the determining factor. Patiently, she would spend the required time to choose the card whose words expressed her sentiments.

Leslye‘s first experience in card writing was in March of 1990. After the passing of her grandfather, her dad asked her to draft the content for the family's thank you card.Years later, with Advent quickly passing, Leslye panicked upon realizing that she had not purchased Christmas cards. She quickly calmed herself by deciding to write her own. Much to her surprise, Leslye wrote and designed eight Christmas cards within a week.

Today, Leslye's collection includes more than 200 designs to express appreciation, congratulations, encouragement, and faith. There are also cards that speak to compassion, diversity, goodwill, love, peace, and service. We invite you to visit LeslyeWrytes regularly on Etsy, Facebook and Twitter to see how life continues to inspire Leslye.

Leslye sent me an entire set of her cards to review. GREAT products, very professional looking and all the cards have great messages! Truly worth purchasing. Shipping is very fast and her cards are well packaged for it. Boxed just like the cards you would purchase from a store. Great quality, would recommend her to anyone looking for cards!

Don't forget to come back later today for the giveaway!!! Lots of great prizes available!!! There will be 2 winners!!!