This morning I had a revelation that my life is a bit chaotic. Those that know me well perceive me as the organized, well put-together, multi-tasker and well, I appreciate those kind words, but I feel otherwise to some degree. So it’s time to get off my butt and instill more order and routine into my life. Anyone who has kids knows they need structure, it’s sort of a comfort thing for them. Well us adults need the same. A predictable daily pattern needs to be in place so we can better deal with the unexpected. And we all know those kinks in our routine tend to show up at the most inopportune time. But if we are organized we can better prepare for those pesky little buggers. Being a wife, mother, and entrepreneur, organization should be my middle name.

So I decided to start with de-cluttering our home. There are a lot of impulse-buys decor scattered amongst our home and frankly they need to go. Which leads to the next step, spring cleaning. It’s officially spring so the house needs a good cleaning. I also need to start actually looking back at my planner when I write in it. Yes it’s very lovely but it also serves a purpose. A more organized and uncluttered life will ultimately lead to a happy woman.

So in honor of my revelation, I wanted to highlight some of my favorite little organizers I found on Etsy.

From top left to bottom right::
I heart lists :: Simple Song
Grass Pocket Workbook :: Dozi
Monthly Planner :: Bubbo *This one is on it’s way to my house
Mini meal planner :: Briones + Co.

What do you do to unclutter?

Mouth-watering, sensational, and delicious are only a few of the words I would use to describe this sweet and spicy lil’ shop. Based in Brooklyn, New York, Whimsy + Spice offers sweet delectables such as cookies, biscottis, brownies and more through their website and Etsy shop. I can personally attest to the ooey goodness of their homemade marshmallows. They didn’t last 2 days in this house.

Maple Marsh Marshmallows

So without further ado, I bring you the brains and personality behind Whimsy + Spice.

Jenna, Mark, and their 2 adorable children

How did Whimsy + Spice come about?
“It’s one of those classic “laid off employee becomes an entrepreneur” story. We’re actually seeing this reported a lot in the press lately. Mark lost a new job last year, but instead of going back to the restaurant industry where he was a pastry chef for 8 years here in NYC, we decided to start the business. He wanted to leave the restaurant industry at some point since it isn’t a family-friendly business, so this unexpected turn of events helped us take the leap. We figured we didn’t have anything to lose and since we needed to make money right away, we tried to do it as cheaply and smartly as possible.”

Where did the business name, Whimsy + Spice, originate from?
“It came to me late at night when we were tossing around names for a few days. It was very different from the ones that were in the running. It’s a play on a few things: “sugar and spice” being one, and it also reminds me of my 2 girls, one who is definitely spicy and the other who is more whimsical. When we decided that the name was “the one”, it helped shape the direction of the company –incorporating different spices and flavors into sweets. “

Biscotti

What is a typical work day for you two?
“Hectic. Crazy. Long. We don’t have a typical schedule because everyday is different since we both work from home. How the day goes depends on how many orders need to go out and what freelance design projects I’m working on. Our older daughter’s pre-school hours are the only consistent thing in our schedule and so our days revolve around that. Mark and I trade off on childcare. He goes to bake in the kitchen around 4 times a week and there is often a trip to the post office once a day (sometimes twice!). I’ll work on client design work until 2am almost every night. That’s when the house is quiet.”

What are your tried + true products/best sellers and why do you think so?
It often changes with the season and venue, but people seem to really love our espresso dulce de leche brownies. We have a lot of customers who come back for them. I think the surprise seller for us are the marshmallows. I don’t know about anyone else, but I never gave marshmallows a thought until we started selling them. I think people are really intrigued about homemade marshmallows! And well, they are better than the stuff you buy in stores.

The divine Espresso Dulce De Leche Brownies which I will be placing an order for soon!

The Earl Gray Cookies

Do you have any business advice/keys to success for new businesses?
“Well composed product shots with great lighting is really important. Strong branding and a good design goes far. I’ve always been a minimalist designer so our branding reflects that aesthetic. It really helped us get noticed from the get go to look as professional and polished as possible, even if we always didn’t feel like we were. I realize that we were fortunate to be able to do it all in-house, but if you don’t have the means to do it yourself, save up and hire the best designer and photographer you can afford.

We’ve also been very fortunate with great press in our first year, some big publications as well as smaller blogs. But let me tell you, in general I’ve found that we’ve received the most benefit from bloggers and viral marketing than from the bigger press mentions. Obviously there have been press mentions that have made big impacts, but I’m talking as a whole. So it’s important to get yourself out there, on twitter, on a blog and start meeting people online! I’ve made wonderful friends online, like Bridgett!”

What are your favorite types of foods? A favorite restaurant?
“I can eat sushi every day. I also love Korean and Ethiopian food. There’s really nothing that I don’t like eating, actually. We don’t eat out very much but we’re lucky in that Mark is an excellent chef, both sweet and savory.”

They make excellent gifts!

Do you have a favorite blog?
“Yes, there are tons, but the ones that I check in everyday without fail are Brownstoner, Smosch…and Perez Hilton. I don’t know why as he annoys me sometimes (what’s with all the typos on that blog?), but it’s a habit I can’t stop.”

Thanks Mark + Jenna for letting us into the life of Whimsy + Spice!

As if I didn’t entice you enough with all of their fabulous photos but here’s one more to leave you yearning for more.

Where you can find Whimsy + Spice
The Website :: www.whimsyandspice.com
The Shop :: www.whimsyandspice.etsy.com
The Blog :: www.sweetfineday.com
Twitter :: www.twitter.com/whimsyandspice

I had a burst of creativity over the past two days and created some new note cards and gift tags. Plus I got to play with some of my new props. Just a few of my favorite additions, but you can find more via my new flickr account which I’ll showcase all of my pictures. These beauties will be added to my shop soon.

And finally my new packaging!

One of my twitter friends keeps a blog on urban home decor, The Urban Lifestyle, and the finds she comes across makes me say wow everytime. This Chicago beauty shares her love of style from Bohemian Chic to vintage modern.

Her most recent post really caught my eye. The company, Urban Hardwoods, rescues trees that have died and then refurbishes them to create modern, sleek, and sophisticated home/office decor. I literally combed through their entire website and fell in love with everything. I’m sure you will too. And if you happen to be on the west coast, you should check out their showrooms: Seattle and San Francisco. Now wipe that drool off your mouth and go check them out.

I’ve been meaning to do this for awhile but found the time last night to actually sit down and clean up shop. More consistent color options were needed throughout my products. So last night I consolidated most of my products to one listing per item with the option of 13 color choices. At a glance, my shop looks like about 20 items were either sold (I wish) or taken down, but in essence more were added since not everything came in the same color before. A simple thought but hopefully this will cater to more customers now that nearly everything will have a wider range of selection.

So what do you think?

Oh and you may have noticed I took down the pictures of the stationery boxes…not because they aren’t still offered but because something is in the works. Stay tuned for more!

PS – If you aren’t already receiving my e-newsletters, shoot me an email: info@perideaudesigns.com. Be in the know when giveaways and sale are happening or when new products are added. New one will go out next week.

I just submitted my payment form to participate in 2 craft fairs. It was something I wanted to complete in my March goals and I can’t believe I did! I had 2 picked out and ready to submit the application when I received an email inviting me to participate in a well-known fair in New England. It seemed like it was too good to be true but after researching and talking with them it was a right fit for me; as I’m new to being on the other side of the table. So many things to think/worry about: payment, display, what to stock, how much stock, and the list goes on and on. But I’m excited and thrilled to be taking this next step to further my business. So if you happen to be around the Old Deerfield Craft Fair in Massachusetts in June or November, stop on by and say hello!

I’ve been featured on pve design’s blog amongst such great work. It is truly humbling to read how others view my work which in essence validates what I’m trying to do. Thank you so much to the two lovely ladies who took the time to feature lil’ ol’ me.

Thanks Shauna!

This week I decided to highlight an artist via an one on one interview to get a better insight on who they are. I’ll be looking to mix in interviews with the typical feature format, just to keep you on your toes. So this week I’d like to introduce Rachel Weber, the crafty genius behind Fog and Thistle. Rachel designs art with the use of paper cuts to make shadowboxes, prints, and her most popular seller…the nightlights, which she personally featured on the Martha Stewart Show. I personally have my eye on her newest addition of personalized nightlights.

So let’s begin, shall we?

So Rachel, how did you get started creating paper cuts?
“I started paper cutting when I was pregnant with my second child. We were moving my daughter out of the nursery and needed art for both bedrooms. Other than traditional silhouettes, my only awareness of paper cutting at that time was a children’s book with cut paper illustrations that I admired (This Little Pirate illustrated by Amy Walrod). I picked up my knife and gave it a go. And those first few months, you couldn’t pry my knife out of my hand. Love at first cut!”

Where did the business name, Fog + Thistle, originate from?
“Fog and Thistle came out of a brainstorming session with my husband. We loved the imagery it evoked with an Edward Gorey-esque quality to it–fog sounding a little mysterious and the thistle imagery seems to match the sharpness of paper cutting.”

What is your inspiration behind your paper cuts?
“Working at home can be really isolating. As a result, I’m heavily immersed in design and art blogs and websites. That, along with children’s books and products, really all mesh together for constant sources of inspiration. I frequently draw inspiration from literature, and I also love mythology.”

Rachel, please describe a typical work day for you.
“Hectic! I have two young kids, husband, house, and a dog to juggle in addition to work. While my daughter has a preschool program five mornings a week, I only have eight hours during the week when both kids are out of the house at the same time. I cram a lot in those hours. I also have to work evenings and weekends to make up for time I may lose during the typical work week. The top floor of our house has a large playroom that connects to the studio, so there are times the kids are running amok while I’m working. The beauty of paper cutting is that the medium allows for interruptions–I can just tuck my knife out of reach and walk away at a moment’s notice.”

Can you give some business advice that contributed to your success to help other start-up businesses ?
“I am continuously surprised at the impact of online social networking has for internet-based businesses. A fair portion of my time is spent working on establishing and maintaining connections. And the key to that is to be interested in what other people do and say. The payoffs are wonderful; not only can it draw in more business and spread brand awareness, but it’s nice to have a community of people who inspire and encourage you.”

What is your favorite food, hobby, anything you would like to share?
“Two Bite Brownies are my downfall. A container has no more than a 12 hour life expectancy in my house. I am a wishful gardener…each year I’m hoping to do a little better and right now I’m lusting for Spring. I usually carry whatever book I am currently reading around the house with me and grab a moment to read a couple of pages here and there. At least a couple of times a week, I daydream that I have powers like Samantha in Bewitched and can clean and redecorate my house with a twitch of my nose.”

What are some of your favorite blogs?
“There are so many great ones: Little Brown Pen, Sweet Fine Day, Cicada Daydream, The B-Line, Bliss, Please Sir…the list goes on. My Google Reader is jam packed with goodies!”

Thank you so much Rachel for taking the time to share a little bit about yourself with us. Keep up the great work!

Where you can find Rachel
The Blog :: www.fogandthistle.com
The Shop :: www.fogandthistle.etsy.com
Twitter :: www.twitter.com/fogandthistle

And I can’t help but to act quickly and add them to my shop. A modern take on our original giraffe print, and thanks to a custom order I’m adding the elephant silhouette to the mix.

I also decided to play with a different setup style for my product shots. They will be much better once I get my dream camera but I like what I have to work with. What do you think?

Khaki + Black Personalized Prints

Giraffe Personalize Print