What do you make? I make herbal and aromatherapy products.

Where do you live? Lexington, KY in the heart of the Bluegrass

Interesting facts: I am working on some educational programs that I will be available sometime in January.

What attracted you to The Spotted Box? The opportunity to get samples into the hands of potential customers and the advertising-it is just too good to pass up!

What led to your decision to make natural products? It is really alarming how many chemicals we are exposed to everyday and no one knows what the long-term effects will be.  I wanted more control over the health and safety of my family.

What are your favorite things to shop for on etsy and hyenacart? I really love to shop for handmade soaps.  I also like to look at art and sometimes buy handmade jewelry.

Here’s the radio show from last week that you can listen to:

http://www.blogtalkradio.com/blockheadrod/2008/12/27/artisan-teams-and-groups

Here’s some blogs that wrote about the January Spotted Box:

http://colleenstearns.blogspot.com/2009/01/review-spotted-box.html

http://tscrapper.blogspot.com

We will be the featured street team on www.BlockheadRadioLive.com this Saturday, December 27th at 1pm EST.  There is a live show to listen to as well as a forum to chat.  Check us out!

The featured artisan for this week is Tiffany’s Trinkets http://hyenacart.com/TiffanysTrinkets/

What do you make?  I make Jewelry for all ages.  I use Swarovski, glass beads, semi- precious stones, sterling silver snd acrylic for super cute childrens sets.

Where do you live? I live in Wild Wonderful West Virginia.

Interesting facts? I’ve lived in the same town my entire life, and plan to stay here for the rest of it.  I love it here!

What attracted you to The Spotted Box? The advertisement!  Oh, and it doesnt hurt to get a box of my very own if I send in 60 samples! 

What led you to your decision to make Natural Family and/or Eco Friendly Products? I started out just doing it for something to do.  Then I kept getting compliments on my work and people telling me that I should think about selling it.
And, just for fun, what is your favorite thing to shop Etsy.com or Hyenacart.com for? Oh my…thats a hard one.  I am a sucker for anything for my daughter.  Expecially all the awsome clothes!  There are some awsome Mama’s on here!

Check out these blogs about the December Spotted Box!  We will add more as they become available

http://tscrapper.blogspot.com

www.glorybeherbals.blogspot.com

The December Best of The Box is KinderKlothes for the really nice infant mittens, they are very cute and useful too!

But I have to say there were some serious runners up:

Let it Shine Jewelry Design. These are absolutely darling earring,
simple yet fun and very light so really nice for kids, teenagers and
especially people like me with sensitive ears who can’t wear heavier
jewelry.

Beemer Knits sent in HUGE “mini” skeins, really nice yards, and lots
of it.

I continue to be obsessed with all the different things Piping Hot
Papers send in, I love their magnets.

Tea and Laundry sent in these sets of fun earrings and a big magnet
all in a bag with little stars in it, very fun and generous too.

Herban Lifestyle has really nicely packaged stuff.

Just Add Memories sent in super packs of various items, like hair pins and other stuff, I’ll let you be surprised.

The Featured artisan of the week is Pictnic Basket Crafts http://www.picnicbasketcrafts.etsy.com

I am a full time science teacher and a proud mother of two wonderful little boys.  I live in Littleton, Colorado, but commute to teach in the same small town I called home as a kid.  My business started as the little picnic basket I keep under my desk at school, and now has grown into a thriving and expanding business.  But I can’t tell you about my business without telling you a little about my Oma. Coming of age in post-World War II Germany and then moving to the U.S. with 4 kids to raise on her own, it was always just a given that cleaning products would be homemade. I grew up watching her start her day by crafting the concoctions she would later use to clean, disinfect, deodorize and freshen up the house with. She was well-known for having THE cleanest house on the military base. Decades later, when she would come to visit and ask where we kept the borax and washing soda, I’d shrug and hand her some Windex and Comet.  She would just shake her head and mutter to herself in German, then proceed to dig through the pantry herself looking for suitable substitutes. Oh, the wonderful things that woman could do with a stale box of baking soda, half a cup of white vinegar, and the juice of a lemon! Well, there you go… the inspiration that made me throw out everything under my kitchen sink, and begin to ask, “What would Oma use?”

My favorite items to shop for on etsy?  Search for items tagged “msoe” (for Mad Scientists Of Etsy) to learn more about my geeky little passion!  Anything sciency and artsy at the same time makes me just positively giddy!

Pedras www.vanillalotus.etsy.com

About:

My name is Priscilla, I’m a crafty girl living in Texas. I make stitch markers for crochet and knit. Many people don’t know what stitch markers are so I will explain. Stitch markers are used in crochet and knitting to marker a place in your work. They can be used to mark the end of a row in circular knitting, or increases, decreases, or blocks of certain stitches go. I started making stitch markers when I started crochet last year in 2007. It was hard for me to find any stitch markers locally that were not just ugly plastic rings. After doing some searching online I found knitters had many beautiful beaded stitch markers, so I wanted some too! Being so crafty I thought it would be a great idea to make stitch markers for crocheters. I purchased some crochet stitch markers before starting Pedras and found the lobster clasps were so bulky and heavy, that is when I found an alternative. Here I am a year and half later. I don’t do Pedras full time but would love. I got to school full time for Horticulture (I love Plants) and I work part time propagating plants. In my spare time I make stitch markers or many of the other artsy crafty things I liked to do to keep my fingers active.

What attracted you to The Spotted Box?
I was contacted by Tory through my Etsy shop www.vanillalotus.etsy.com. I really liked the idea of the Spotted Box and thought it would be a great way to get out my products to those that might know what they are and use them. I’ve looked at sample boxes before but the Spotted Box has a theme. It would just break my heart to send in my samples to a sample box when no one will use them and just throw them out.

What led you to your decision to make Natural Family and/or Eco Friendly Products?
I make what I love. It brings me lots of joy to hear customers say they are so glad they found me and they love my stitch markers.

And, just for fun, what is your favorite thing to shop Etsy.com or Hyenacart.com for?
I’m mostly on Etsy 24/7 but I have just started looking through Hyenacart.com. My favorite thing on Hyenacart.com to shop for are candle tarts! I love candles and scents! Looking at those shops makes me want to start my own little candle store (uh oh). On Etsy I like to shop for yarn mainly but I use pounce and find many other others to get. If only my paycheck was big enough to buy everything I want.

Several Spotted Box-ers are running Black Friday sales…..

2 by 2 Boutique www.2by2boutique.com Free shipping all day and 15% off order of $50 or more! Code: free2ship.

Bambootique Congo www.hyenacart.com/bambootique deals, giveaways and auctions.

Bitty Fluff Congo www.bittyfluff.com, all of the congo members are offering discounts
and ourly FFS lottos from 3am-8pm.

Baby Vagabond BabyVagabond.etsy.com Free Shipping - All day Black Friday through Cyber Monday.

BumbleBear Children’s Wear www.BumbleBearWear.com 40% off sale on Black Friday on all items.

Chunky Punky Boutique www.chunkypunky.com will be having some sales and will be offering discount codes for our site randomly all day long.

CleanRinse http://CleanRinse.etsy.com will be offering 25% off all items from 12:00 AM EDT to 12:59 PM EDT on Friday the 28th.

Clear Hills Honey http://hyenacart.com/clearhillshoney At our hyena cart, customers can use discount code “BF2008″ to receive 20% off of their entire order all day on Black Friday. We will also
be running a special FFS lottery.

Colorado Catnip Toys www.coloradocatniptoys.etsy.com From Thursday at midnight through Monday at midnight, I will be giving TWO FREE CATNIP TOYS with each order.

Country Soaps by Marlene http://hyenacart.com/countrysoapsbymarlene will be having 30% off all day on Friday.  Plus during the Thanksgiving weekend (starting Thanksgiving and going through Sunday) there are 5 auctions listed for gift tins/baskets.  The code for the friday sale is listed on the site under Black Friday deals and steals.

Craftalicious www.stylediva.etsy.com Mon. Nov. 24th - Sat. Nov. 28th: Buy one item, get one item half off, free gift wrapping with every purchase, free gift with every purchase.

FlirtButtons www.flirtbuttons.etsy.com From now, November 24th thru December 1st free shipping on all orders over $20 to any destination (Paypal will be refunded), my pocket mirror sale ends at Midnight EST December 1st -all single pocket mirrors will be $3.50 each or 6 for $15 or 12 for $25 or 50 for $90.

Fishnoodles http://hyenacart.com/fishnoodles Free shipping from Nov. 28 through Dec. 1 with code FREESHIP08.

FOE Your Diaper http://hyenacart.com/foeyourdiaper/ Deals and auct

Frost Fish Cove Soaps www.frostfishcovesoaps.etsy.com or www.hyenacart.com/frostfishcovesoaps 30% all Soap of The Month Subscriptions use code BFSOMC. 20% off everything else use code BlackFri.

Glory Be Herbals www.hyenacart.com/GloryBeHerbals Black Friday through cyber-Monday.  20% off with code GBH08.

Herban Lifestyle http://herbanlifestyle.com has deals as part of the The Capital Region Etsy Street Team (CREST) is holding a team promo. Several stores are offering discounts or free shipping from Black Friday through Cyber Monday, and we are offering a Gift Box Drawing. The box includes full-sized items from all 19 stores that area participating.

I Heart Bowheads http://www.funkyfinds.us/theshops/I-Heart-Bowheads%21.html Buy one get one free.

I’m Pretty Boutique http://www.imprettyboutique.com 25% off with coupon THANKS and a free gift with every purchase.

In Stitches www.memarcierenee.etsy.com In-store bonuses plus during the month of November, FREE SHIPPING on all orders of $30.00 or more.

Jack’s Magic Beanstalk www.jacksmagicbeanstalk.com Receive a FREE pair of Baby Legs with each dozen of bumGenius one size diapers ordered, the first 5 orders placed on Thanksgiving Day will receive a FREE jar of Rash Magic Sensitive, the first 5 orders placed on Black Friday (the day after Thanksgiving Day) will receive a FREE jar of Bum Magic. ALL orders placed Thanksgiving Day and Black Friday will receive 5 FREE wipes,  orders placed Thanksgiving Day and Black Friday over $100 will receive a Diapering Gift package valued at $25 or more,  One lucky person will receive their entire order for FREE.

Let it Shine Jewelry Design www.Sherry19682008.etsy.com Earring Sale until December 19th, Purchase 4 pair of earring Receive your 5th pair FREE (free pair not to exceed the lowest price).

Lil Birdie Bottoms www.lilbirdiebottoms.etsy.com Pumpkin raisin soap bar and face & body scrub listed for half off and also five diaper wash truffles FFS

Lili Lutu Jewelry Design www.hyenacart.com/lililutu 25% off everything in the store using the code BF25

Little Painted Polkadots www.littlepaintedpolkadots.com Free shipping all day (use code: NOSHIP), $10 off any purchase of $50 or more (use code: BF10) and $25 off any purchase of $100 or more (use code: BF25).

luvbug diapers www.hyenacart.com/luvbugdiapers ffs organic diapers,and free shipping on several of the listings with a few discount codes in the store.

Main Street Congo www.hyenacart.com/mainstreet Three lotteries for discount codes or 10%, 15% and 20%.  Prefolds for $1 and a $5 wool wash listed. Two collaborations are discounted for Black Friday and each store in the congo will list discounted items as well.

Melinda’s Lotions & Potions http://hyenacart.com/melindaslotions 20% off your purchase price with the coupon code BF2008

The Melting Pot Candle Co. www.TheMeltingPotCandleCo.com Burners ONLY $2!. $1.00 OFF all gift sets, 20% OFF all Full Size Tarts, 20% OFF Mini Melts, 20% OFF Cup Tarts.

Munchkin Wear http://hyenacart.com/MunchkinWear/ or http://hyenacart.com/thetreeoflife/ Free shipping plus 15% of the purchase price will be refunded.

North Woods Toys www.hyenacart.com/northwoodstoys Free for shipping lotteries and more.

Picnic Basket Crafts www.picnicbasketcrafts.etsy.com BOGO half off Friday 6 am through Sunday midnight,
cyber time.

Scent-sory Creations http://hyenacart.com/scentsorycreations/ Free Shipping until the end of November with code “freeship”.

Simply Clean www.simplycleanok.com is offering a graduated discount of up to 20% based on order amount.

Small Moments www.hyenacart.com/wonderland FFS lottery and buy one, get one FREE on photos.

Social Butterflies http://www.socialbutterflies.etsy.com Buy any 4 items, get 1 FREE.

SweetPea Boutique http://hyenacart.com/sweetpeaboutique/ Free shipping all day and 6 Free For Shipping lotteries spread throughout the day.

Sweet Treats by Maryann www.sweettreatmaryann.etsy.com 25% off** all orders received on Black
Friday, November 28th **Before shipping.

T & Little S Designs www.tscrapper.etsy.com BOGO 1/2 off everything in my shop. My sale is Thursday through Cyber Monday and is part of the Holiday EtsyFest.

Wonderland Congo www.hyenacart.com/wonderland deals, giveaways and auctions.