This giveaway is now closed.
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Jessica is a sponsor to the Gussy Sews community and is welcoming February with a fun, 5-question interview about her gorgeous product, her gorgeous family, and what inspires her. Twice now I’ve been blessed to be able to hug Jess in person. She is a wonderful business woman and adds so much to the handmade community.
The interview ~
Share with us a little bit about yourself, your family & your handmade shop.
I am a thirty-something wife and mom to the most beautiful family ever. (not biased at all.) I love to laugh and smile, to create and nurture creativity, and I love my (crazy) life. My husband decided to go back to school about 2 1/2 years ago to be able to provide for our growing family and he graduates in April (yay!) and will continue on to law school in the fall. We have 2 boys (Owen and Henry) who are ALL boy and keep us very busy with their 2 and 3 year old antics. They are full of love and life (and cars and trains and dirt.)
I started my shop a year into our back-to-school adventure when our savings ran out and part-time jobs were hard to come by. I knew I wanted to stay at home with my boys and decided on a whim to sell things I’d already been making for myself and as gifts. I had NO idea what was awaiting for me in this wonderful handmade world and feel so blessed for the way I’ve been embraced here. I spend most of my days managing my household and my online world – rolling rosettes and answering emails while changing diapers and breaking up fights. I love beautiful things, and have so much respect for the artists who create them. I blog about my adventures as a mom/wife/entrepreneur over here. I love ice cream and the color yellow and think winter is highly overrated.
How do you keep yourself inspired?
You’re going to see my right brain come out for a minute here: I find I have to keep myself inspired in two ways. 1) I have to stay artistically inspired. and 2) I have to stay motivated and inspired. The first is easy. I am usually artistically inspired when I get bored. If I am getting tired of my current accessory choices, I know it is time to shake things up a little and get the creative juices flowing. I am inspired by the things I want in my own wardrobe and perhaps I’m selfish in admitting that I design for myself. The second inspiration comes from a few sources. I am so inspired by women who are trying their best to contribute to their family incomes and I get really excited to share what I am learning and doing with them. Having said that, I am most often moved to progress and continue by my desire to provide for my family and ease my husband’s burden while he is concentrating on school.
Just a few days ago you were at Blissdom. Share with us this experience & the impact it had on your business.
Where do I begin? Let me start with this: Conferences are 100% what you make of them. I never expected that the content of the sessions would make a significant impact on my business. I can hear people talk all day long about what works for them, but that alone will not change anything in me or in my business. However, I did expect that the relationships formed would make a huge impact. And they already have! Meeting customers face to face and interacting with people who I respect and admire is invaluable. I find that my sales are directly related to how connected I feel to the community around me (and how connected THEY feel to me.) Sharing an experience like Blissdom with them is perhaps the best way for me to push my business to the next level. The bonus? I walk away refreshed and ready to conquer the world!
What are some recent business accomplishments you are most proud of?
Hmm… I am mostly proud of the growth. Every month since it’s opening a year and a half ago, my shop has seen steady and consistent growth. Right now I am happy to say that my sales have more than quadrupled since the fall. That just gives me butterflies. But, more exciting than that, I am so thrilled to have a community that trusts me and my experience and feels empowered to find their own talents and do something about it. That is more than I could ever hope for!
What are a few of your favorite handmade shops?
How do you choose? I wish I could list them all! How about a few I’ve never purchased from, but have been eying for a long time:
Le Papier Studio – beautiful silhouettes
Yes Jess Knits – knits that make me not hate wintertime so much
Pretty Things by Meg – you know I have to have that mustard ruffle necklace!
Want to win some Allora Handmade?
Leave a comment sharing where you would go with your Allora Handmade rosettes and enter to win a mini modern pearl statement necklace in any color ~
Giveaway ends Friday morning (2/4) and is open to the US only. For extra entries: blog tweet or facebook this {leave an extra comment for each}.
great post! love love love jessica. she is just as genuine in person as she is on her blog. thanks for sharing a sweet post about a sweet girl maggie. you do a great job of helping us connect with these shop owners:)
Melisa- i guess we really love her. ha, just noticed we both put “love love love”. high five!
I’ve been hearing so much about ‘Allora Handmade’ from twitter and all sorts of other blogs and am so excited to finally “meet” her! Such an inspiration!! thanks for posting. I am def. adding her to my favorite blogs. love love love her shop! :]
I SO enjoyed getting to meet Jess at Blissdom! What a sweet, genuine person.
great interview!!!! Jess stuff is sooooo cute!!!!
this was great! i just ordered the new mini modern pearl necklace yesterday in moss green and i cannot wait to receive it!
I heart allora!! Jess has got to be one of the sweetest people ever. Look at that top picture! She just oozes sweetness!
Great post!! Your shop is sooo stinkin cute:)
I would go on a date with my hubby! They are super cute!
I have been DROOOOLLLING over her stuff since I saw your mustard ear rings but I’ve yet to order anything – but come my birthday, I’ll be buying some I think! :)
Hm, I think that a rosette necklace would go lovely with a Church outfit! :)
i would go everywhere…of course. because i would be wearing it every day :)
I have a dentist appt coming up on Valentine’s Day and I think it would be the perfect thing to wear for a little Valentine’s Day cheer and also to try to have something bright and cheery as an encouragement for having to go to the dentist!!!
Loved meeting Jessica at Blissdom, love the earrings she gave out (so sweet, now my favorite earrings ever!), and I would love to win a necklace (but I’ll probably still have to buy one too.) I’d wear mine every day with every outfit, so much that people would start to say, “Ruth, enough with the necklace already, sheesh!” :-)
great interview!! Had fun getting to know Jess a little better! :)
Oops I missed the giveaway! I’m awaiting the green moss mini modern pearl but i’d also LOVE the hot pink one and i’d wear it allll summah long!
I love her necklaces! I just ordered one of the modern pearl necklace!! I adore the mini necklace as well!
Where WOULDN’T I go with my rosette is the question!!! To the gym, to the grocery, out for a date night! WOO!
Awww, so fun! I’ve now gotten to know Jessica a bit better (just discovered her/those incredible rosette works of art) and now you. YAY! I have a hard time deciding which color I’d like but in my quest to wear more bold jewelry, I’d wear this gorgeousness EVERYWHERE!
xo
Alyson (www.theaveragegirlsguide.com)
I would go out on a date with the hubby with my necklace. I love Allora handmade. I’m so excited!
I would wear my necklace either on a date with my hubby or for a girls night out with my friends! But how do you choose just one color?!
This might sound crazy but I am due any day now and I would wear it on the day of my delivery :) I want something that will make me feel pretty and feminine on that special day!.
xoxo!
So, I have to go with 2 answers! 1) on Valentine’s for a date with the boy :) and 2) I fully intend on getting all gussied up (with this necklace and my Gussy bag!) for my oral qualifying exam (oh so exciting….)
I’d wear it to my fiance’s grad school’s spring banquet! It would sass up my dress perfectly!
I also tweeted this (twice!)!
I’ve been looking at the green necklace for months. :) I love her stuff. I know just where I’d wear it and what outfit I’d wear it with. :)
I would wear it to church (the ladies there would love it! promise!) and make my hubby take me on a fancy schmancy date so I could look all glam!
Tweeted! ‘scuse me… :)
http://twitter.com/#!/GussySews/status/32483098423726081
Facebook’d
http://www.facebook.com/#!/carrie.haughey/posts/186612198027151
I cannot think of a place I wouldn’t wear them! Well…except maybe to the gym or pool…as bright and cheery as they are, I am thinking that is just not a good idea. I seriously big puffy hear them though! :)
Love both Gussy and Allora Handmade! Great combo ladies~
I adore Jessica’s darling work! I would definitely be sporting my Allora necklace to the multiple wedding events that I have coming up in the next couple of months!
I have actually been looking at these necklaces and most jewelry is worn to work. I like to add a little splash to my days as a CPA.
Um . . . where would I go? Well, I live *such* an exciting life of spontaneity and variety that it would have to be one of three places: Starbucks, the fabric store or Barnes & Noble.
But, those are all really happenin’ places.
i’m in the midst of bridesmaid season and i must say that necklace would dress up a simple black dress for a rehearsal dinner like NOBODY’s business…i might even show up the bride!
You’ve been FBd.
I tweeted. Tweet tweet
I would wear to go to a romantic dinner with my man ‘;) Lovely work!!
I Facebooked it! Thanks:)
I would go ummm, anywhere wearing her stuff! Sooo pretty!
out of the house…anywhere but here really..the necklace is so versatile!!!
I Retweeted @Ashley_gurski
She just makes you want to smile!
Totally want me some Allora Handmade!
[…] This post was mentioned on Twitter by GrowingUpGurski, Carrie Haughey, Ruthanne, The Average Girl, The Average Girl and others. The Average Girl said: Great giveaway! Wine an @allorahandmade rosette necklace on @gussysews! http://tinyurl.com/4fa4d5l […]
Tweeted!! @yellowwick
I would wear my Allora Handmade on datenight with my hubs! OR….girls night out! whatever that is. ;o) I would wear it to take emphasis off my growing baby “bump”…and all the areas on me that are growing along with the baby.
I would go anywhere with one of those! It sure would make a good excuse to go on a trip, an outing or just to dinner!
I would wear them to work everyday and to brunch with my girlfriends where they will be appreciated and admired!
I love her necklaces! I would wear them anywhere because they can make any outfit look chic! :)
Gorgeous! I am really wanting one of her pieces! I’m going out on the town with hubby soon AND would love to wear something like that for my Listen To Your Mother show performance… hmmm…
Steph
I love these necklaces! They are so gorgeous!
Hmm…..where would I wear my necklace? I don’t know maybe a nice meal with my family, just having fun and spending time together! Or for that matter…..I’ll just wear it to Starbucks to pick up a coffee! =)
Oh… I would wear my Allora Handmade necklace out on a date with my hubby or on a “girls night out!” So pretty!
I would go everywhere with some Allora Handmade rosettes! Work, play, church, date night – that’s the easy part! The hard part would be trying to choose which ones to wear :)
I would go to work, to church, on date nights with the hubby!!! Anywhere!
How about what I’d wear it with. White t-shirt , jeans and boots. Love those necklaces.
I heart Jess AND Gussy!!! Two of my faves. Muuuahh!!!
I would go on one last date night with my husband before baby #2 comes! : )
I have the bigger size in red & I LOVE it!! xoxo
Tweeted the giveaway!
I would go on a date night with my hubby with one of those beautiful necklaces!!
I would wear the necklace daily just to freshen up a basic tee and look fancy!
I had the pleasure of eating a lunch with Jessican at Blissdom and I was eye-balling her necklace the entire time. I got to take home some of those yummy mustard earrings with her business card.
I would wear that necklace everywhere! I’ll probably take my Red Lobster gift car (Blissdom swag) and take hubby out to dinner. My treat. :)
Hope I win! I was really coveting one of these…
Love the necklaces i would wear one constantly!
First, I love, love, love her products. I was lucky enough to get one of the sky blue Allora bracelets and I get so many compliments on it. I always steer them to her website. She is so talented. I would love to win one of her necklaces and wear it to church…then everywhere!!!
I’m pretty sure I would wear that gorgeous necklace everywhere!! Thanks!! Beautiful gal that Jessica!
I would wear it during my trip to London! I love the turquoise and gray! So pretty! Thanks!
Tweeted!
http://twitter.com/MaddyMazeStudio
I just tweeted as well.
Tweeted!!
@jenkied
I would wear one of these necklaces to work to snazz up my outfits!! Then whoever comes up to my window can compliment me on how very very cute it is!
I looove loove my new earrings and would be thrilled to add to my little Allora Handmade collection because so far… I’m wearing them EVERYWHERE. Well except the shower. (so far..)
Katie
I’d wear it here there and EVERYWHERE! The trouble is…. which color?!?! They are all so beautiful.
Though I think I NEED a pair of the rosette earrings… again with the colors? Moss or Mustard?! How about both?! Valentine’s IS right around the corner :)
was wonderful to meet jessica at blissdom!
i would wear her lovely rosettes on a date night out with my hubs :)
church, date night with hubby… shoot, even around the house!! gorgeous necklaces!!!
yay! an amazing giveaway! so awsome ;)
I’ve already told Jess…on more than one occasion…that I must have some Allora Handmade goodness for Creative Estates! Love, love, love her rosies and Jess!
Tweeted it :) {CrystalStine}
The necklaces are beautiful! I would be honored to wear one everywhere I went! Thank you for this opportunity! :)
I would wear it on a fun night out with the girls! (And just about everywhere else too!) So pretty! :)
christiswritingthewaves.blogspot.com
I would wear my rosettes to work everyday! I wear black just about everyday and I think a necklace in a fun color like pink would add something fun but still tasteful to my work clothes!
Posted it on Facebook :)
love allora handmade! i would love to wear one of her necklaces to dress up a t-shirt and jeans :)
Whoa, did I miss the giveaway when I commented this morning?!
I loooove my modern pearl necklace in plum, and I wear it to church and when I go out & about! I could really use a mini one in a different color ;)
So pretty!! I would wear this everywhere of course!!
I’d probably wear it to church on sunday :)
facebooked it!
I do love Allora and would wear them with everything, but maybe especially with my work-from-home yoga pants/sweatshirt combo in case anybody stopped by to visit :)
I think those rosettes would be a great Sunday morning accessory! Or maybe just to dress up my everyday jeans-wear. Like, like, like!
Love it! I would go on a date night with my hubby. Or on a girls night out. Or to church. Or I’d be the most stylin’ mom at the library store time. If I win it, I’ll probably never take it off! I’ll wear it everywhere :)
I would love to have one to wear out on a long over due date with my hubby!!!!!
i would most definitely wear this on a date with my hubby in DC!!!! theni’ll wear it into anthropologie so they can aske where they could buy in bulk for their shop!!! ;)
um…. ANYWHERE! For me as a young professional its hard to feel empowered and maintain confidence. Its me and the closest person in age in 15years older! So, knowledge I feel we are on the same playing field, but thats where it ends. Business attire & pant suits are fun, but drain the personality. I try to add something to my outfit every day to express me, but its really restrictive. So, I have the desire but feel stuck. Creativity is something I have BUT creativity with restrictions is rough! I feel by adding a pop to my wardrobe with Jessica’s necklaces, I can still have me showing. When I feel insecure or nervous about presenting or challenging my co-workers, I just see my reflection, in a window or mirror or my computer screen (HA) see Jess’s necklace and it says “hey you earned your position and go get ’em” its my little boost and reminds me to smile. Life can get ahead of you and wearing Jess’s necklaces remind me that fun and joy still exist and creativity has room in anyone’s life. They are a reminder that its ok to be me and yeah to me its a lot more than just a necklace
i tweeted about it!
I love Allora Handmade! I have the larger rosette necklace and I wear it all the time and get compliments like crazy – I’ve been wanting a mini one especially – I have lots of weddings to go to soon and it would be the perfect accessory! :-)
I love her pretty, feminine necklaces. I’d love to have one.
These necklaces are adorable, I love the colors! I would wear it out on a date with my husband :)
Beautiful rosettes! I would wear one on a date with my hubby! We are in much need of one, and a beautiful new necklace would be something to make the occasion more special!
Yay for Allora Handmade! I ordered one of her bracelets as a gift this Fall and have been kicking myself since on why I didn’t buy myself some pretty roses!
I would wear them in FLORIDA in a few weeks, woo hoo!!
I love those necklaces! great punch of color:) I would wear it anywhere
i facebook liked too
I would wear it to my first conference in Vegas – the first one my company is sending me to – because beauty IS serious business. They’re beautiful!
I made rosettes to use in the boutonniere’s for my wedding but didn’t get to keep any for myself! These necklaces say ‘date in a coffeeshop’ to me! Cute!