Fabulous Finds: Buddha Nature

During my recent tromp through the forums, I stumbled upon the sweetest little shop and just had to share with TDB readers! Among the many lovelies found in her shop, she creates the most adorable crocheted monkeys (as seen above) and gorgeous handbags (below,) which are perfect for grocery shopping, a day at the beach, or just running around town. Her stuff is super cute and made out of hemp, wool, and cotton (just to name a few), so not only will you be buying something sweet..."you will be honoring the planet" as well, states Whitney! Ready to read more about this caring artist!?! Alright, let's do it....

TDB: What is the name of your store and what type of items do you sell/market/promote?

BN: Our company's name is Light Harmony Gratitude but you can find us on etsy as "buddhanature". ( http://www.buddhanature.esy.com )
We make and sell crafts which have a similar theme, promoting a spiritual and organic lifestyle.
TDB: What made you decide to get into this business?

BN: Our company is actually a partnership between myself, Whitney, and my talented and supportive partner Jeremy.
Although, I am mostly the one in charge of online operations.
Jeremy has a bachelors degree in fine art and contributes paintings, bags and bamboo flutes to our wares.
I have been crafting since I was a little girl at summer camp.
We have both found that we need to create beautiful things in life to be really happy, so making that into our mutual business was a natural step forward.
Since moving to Pemberton BC, We have found ourselves to be increasingly supported by the wonderful artistic community in the area and it has really encouraged us to continue doing what we love.

TDB: Do you have any special interests, crafts, talents? If so, what is your latest project?

BN: I noticed early on in life that I had "the touch" or an "eye" for making all kinds of natural artistic creations. My eyes see organic shapes and colours and my hands automatically arrange them into wonderful creations. It's my most cherished gift!
My latest projects are making handmade recycled greeting and note cards, featuring my digital photography. The can be planted to grow lovely flowers!
I am also working on some new hemp necklace designs. I love to work with knots, hemp, gemstones and crystals.
TDB: List three things we would be surprised to know about you?

BN: 1.I love to snowshoe!
BN: 2. We have three amazing and sweet sister cats in our household. Luckily they are partly outdoor cats and we are able to keep our crafts and materials free from their playful paws (and stray hairs!)
BN: 3.Jeremy and I have a few entrepreneurial side projects aside from crafting, Jeremy is a guitar and classical yoga teacher as well as a promising musician. ( http://www.myspace.com/jeremyreubencraig ) We are both trained in Gendai Reiki Ho at the second (okuden) level. Whitney has begun studying the third, (shinpiden) level. ( http://www.coreselfreiki.ca/GendaiReikiHo.html )

TDB: Where can we find your shop products?

BN: Currently, we are selling our products in our online shop at: http://www.buddhanature.etsy.com During the rest of the 2009 Winter Season we will be selling our natural crafts and toys, every sunday, at the Winter Farmer's Market at the beautiful Squamish Lil'wat Cultural Centre in Whistler, BC ( http://www.slcc.ca/ ) We are always looking out for suitable venues for our crafts and are hoping to sell at some great events around British Columbia this summer including the Pemberton Festival ( http://www.pembertonfestival.com/home/ )

Etsy Buy Handmade buddhanature

xoxo Michele

Tuesday's Treasures

Hi everyone! I thought I would take a moment to just to say hello and introduce myself...although I know Angie welcomed me earlier in her sweet post! My name is Michele, the name behind Sweet Irie Originals and the Sweet Irie blog! I am so excited to be joining the Downtown Boutique and hope to bring you some yummy new goodies and features from week to week, so just bare with me while I become acquainted with you and my new home! Now, enough about me, enjoy your treasures for today...

EtsyBuy Handmade Country Dreaming

EtsyBuy Handmade Tavy Ann

EtsyBuy Handmade Mod Yarn

EtsyBuy Handmade Lil Miss Muffin

xoxo Michele

Friday Feature No. 33 -- Featuring Jenny Karlsson

Well, it's late, and I have a toddler, who just got up from his nap crying, sitting in my arms. Please forgive me if there are typos that I don't catch.

You might have noticed that we have not had a Friday Feature for the past two weeks. This is much my fault because I sent out my reminder emails a little too late...like the day before! I have been sick, and so has our little guy, so things aren't getting done as well as I had hoped.

Today, we are featuring Jenny of Jenny Karlsson Design. Jenny lives in Sweden, and is one of a very few featured guests who live outside of the USA! Jenny's shop is a delightful display of cozy items, such as crocheted flower brooches, unique (and numbered) handbags, and more.

Here is a little interview with Jenny:

TDB: When did you first get into crafting, and who taught you to craft?

Jenny: I think it must have been my mother at some time. She used to make some of our clothes when we were younger, and also some soft toys. I remember getting a simple little loom that you could weave scarfs & such in.. At least I know that now - back then I made mats for my dolls' house :) But I have always been interested in making things, the creativity have always needed to come out somehow. I am mainly self-taught I guess..

TDB: From where do you get your inspiration for your crafting?

Jenny: A lot of it comes from nature, flora and fauna. Some times it's things that I see that inspires me, most times though I think it is that the things that brings me energy is the things that I get inspiration from. The will to make something must be there. Then I also love beautiful magazines, children's books, art, history, times past. I like a lot of old things. They have feeling to them.

TDB: What is your favorite thing to create?

Jenny: I like variation. Simple and complicated. I do love to do embroidery and such and would like to have time to make more intricate things. It is easy to get caught up in the 'must make & sell'- circle.. Then again one of the best things with handicrafts is that it must take its time, and then it turn out best. When I have made something it has filled its purpose for me somehow. It's the making that I like, and I don't have trouble parting with my work. I rarely keep something for myself.

TDB: Please tell us a little about your family.

Jenny: There's my beloved one, mom, dad, two brothers and Lilly the dog. I live on my own but I talk to my parents really often and one of my brothers lives in the next door house :) I talk even more often with my beloved one, we live about 300 kilometres apart at the moment..

TDB: If you had 3 wishes granted to you, what would you wish for?
Jenny: Tricky question.. Hm.. I think I would have to be a bit materialistic and ask for 1. 'never have to worry about money', you know - so you have enough to get by and a little more. 2. For my loved ones to be happy and live well. 3. Being able to teleport myself all over the place (would be very practical).Hm, that last one might change a bit, but the other two will stay the same. :)Then again, you gather wisdom all your life by living & learning.

TDB: If you could travel back to any time period in history, where would you go, and why?

Jenny: I have thought about this sometimes.. and there are a few options.. victorian England, 1920's, beginning of the 19th century and perhaps Egypt. These are a few of the time periods that fascinates me and I find a lot of inspiration in. I guess it is also down to The Pre-Raphaelite movement, Arts & Crafts, Arthur Rackham-Edmund Dulac-Walter Crane ( illustrators), The House of Eliott (series) & Jane Austen.. Oh and Charles Dickens.. I do like times past. I can get quite nostalgic about periods in time that I haven't even lived, but am longing for somehow.

TDB: Please share 3 random, little known facts about you
Jenny:
* I was in a youth circus when I was younger. Doing simple acrobatics dressed up as a native american (in a shirt & pants made out of brown flanell that my mother had made, and with red & white stripes in my face).
* I really like playing computer games, especially where you get to chop around with swords and such..Guns works too :) .. There must be a plot though, adventure and excitement. My favorites are Monkey Island x 4, Morrowind, Fable, Half-Life and NoOneLivesForever.. Those are the ones I've played the most. I think...
* I have never smoked a single cigarette. Er.. Oh well, I couldn't come up with any other fact just now.. :)


Thanks Jenny! It was great to find out a little more about the woman behind the designs!
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The Giveaway: A $15.00 "Gift Certificate" to Jenny's shop on Etsy.com.

To Enter: Please visit Jenny Karlsson Design, then come back here and leave a comment about either your favorite item in Jenny's shop or what you would spend this gift certificate on, if you are the winner. Please be sure to have a VALID email address attached to either your comment (like this: downtownboutique (at) sbcglobal (dot) ne), or your Blogger account. You do not have to have a Blogger account to enter, as long as you have an email made available to us.

For one extra entry: Please blog about this giveaway and leave a separate comment with the link to your post.

For another entry: We'd love to have you follow our blog! You will get updates in Blogger with each new post. Yes, you must have a Blogger account for this one. No, it doesn't count if you are already following.

Deadline to enter: Thursday, November 27th at Midnight PST. Giveaway is open worldwide.

Have a great weekend!
Angie