LA

We have a new Etsy Shop!! (news & giveaways)

A few months ago, we soft opened our Freckled Nest Etsy shop and we've been adding new handmade items every few weeks... it's starting to really come together and I'm having a lot of fun working on it!! Today I did a 'Rocky, top of the steps' dance after taking a certain photo for our next update ;) I also made a rarrr/cheering fans sound. ahem.

Our etsy shop is FreckledNest.etsy.com and it features necklaces, accessories and photo albums ideal for instant photos-- photo booth strips, instax and instagram* so far! Everything in our shop has a fun, tongue & cheek names that reference women in pop culture-- since Kyla & I are both pop culture addicts. You can see who we're referencing in the description of each item... makes a fun guessing game ;) 

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Enter the Giveaway:

Entry #1 - Share your favorite item(s) from our shop in the comments of this post.

Entry #2 - Get a second chance to win if you write a tweet about the giveaway linking to this post with a #FreckledNestgiveaway hashtag. 

Two lucky winners will receive a $25 Freckled Nest Shop credit!

Note: One winner will be drawn from the blog comment entires, One from tweets with link & hashtag. Winners will be drawn randomly next week.

These are some of my favorite things... 

PHOTOBOOTH ALBUMS ($20ea)

1. Heidi Photobooth Album  2. Vintage wallpaper cover with heart, acid free pages, fits 12 photostrips.  3. Annie Photobooth Album  4. One of my albums (with my siblings in 2007, Amber and Me in 2010)

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NECKLACES ($18-$25)

1. Celine Airplane Necklace  2. Kate Envelope Necklace  3. Our Locket Joke ;)  4. Amelie Tiny Key Necklace  5. Our photo guide to help you pick the best necklace length for your body type (32" or 36" long)  6. Sara Leaf Necklace (& packaging sample)

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INSTAX-MINI PHOTO ALBUMS ($16ea)

1. Jackie Instax Album  2. Vintage catalogue cover, acid free pages, fits 10 instax mini photos  3. Sample Instax-Mini Album  4. Diana Instax Album

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UPCYCLED FLOWERET BROOCHES ($14-$16, limited stock)

1. Floweret Brooches (made from upcycled felted wool, hand stitched)  2. Elinior Pink Brooch (& Kyla)  3. Claire Cream Brooch

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VINTAGE GOODIE BAGS ($17ea)

1. Vintage Goodie Bag Collection (Each package includes a hand crafted pouch and snap bracelet made from recycled ties and a vintage scarf!)  2. Cherry Vintage Goodie Bag  3. Laura Vintage Goodie Bag  4. Tie Cuff Sample  5. The Little Family :)

Hope you like our handmade goods & new shop,

xo!! Rocky

 

Don't forget to... Enter the Giveaway: 

Entry #1 - Share your favorite item(s) from our shop in the comments of this post.

Entry #2 - Get a second chance to win if you write a tweet about the giveaway linking to this post with a #FreckledNestgiveaway hashtag. 

Two lucky winners will receive a $25 Freckled Nest Shop credit!

Note: One winner will be drawn from the blog comment entires, One from tweets with link & hashtag. Winners will be drawn randomly next week.

How our Company got it's Name (plus naming tips)

In the beginning, I started off making and selling handmade photo albums, embroidered goods and small custom pieces at craft sales. I was into cutesie (ie. scrapbooking style, circa 2005) and named my business “Quaintessential Crafts” --I KNOW! lol, not just Quintessential, it was Quaint ;) I thought it up in one hour, asked a guy friend what he thought of it and proceeded to buy a 5 year registration of the Domain Name. Within two weeks, I hated it. It was too long, confusing, targeted ("Crafts") and basically, it was kinda embarrassing. I let that name die and started fresh.

One of my first Studios // Master Bedroom with a table in the middle, surrounded by supplies & projects

I saw my companies future going in many directions and didn't want the name to corner me (now us) in one product direction. I was re-naming the business around the same time I was starting my blog and etsy, and knew I needed to think of a name I’d love forever. I wanted the name to feel warm, visual and inviting-- like a little world.

To start brainstorming, I went to my roots... the dictionary. I wanted a name that started with ‘f’ because I like the way it looks in handwriting and I scoured the f pages. Freckle immediately jumped out at me because of my love for these human polka-dots and their imperfect beauty. I was looking for a two-word name and brainstormed with a friend; she asked me questions that would inspire ideas for part 2. She said, “You like nature, right?”-- I said yes! and explained to her that I love animals so much, I’ve let a family of sparrows nest in my roof awning for the past few years. Suddenly, the names met in my mind and I blurted out “FRECKLED NEST”! I jumped on google to make sure it was available and then did a happy dance at work. I'd just met the new love of my life.

To me, Freckled Nest has always been the perfect name because it focuses on natural beauty and a gathering of elements to make a home. What does it make you think of?

Now, 5 years later, I'm still in love with our company name and love the ways it suits our Freckled Nest family and community. Freckled Nest is like a growing child to me, a real being and I'm glad she has a name she can grow into and that her parents are proud of :)

1. Give your name time to set in before you announce it or make it permanent (ie. Domain Names, Registration, Business Cards, Sky Writing, etc).

2. Ask wise people for feedback: What visuals come to mind when they hear your name? Is it easy to say, spell and understand? Do they like it and think it suits you, your style and your long-term business plan?

3. Choose a name that you can grow with, avoiding words that describe your current product, field or focus.

4. Brainstorm the name around things you've always loved and that you feel a connection with.

5. Can you marry this name? If you have any hesitation, wait-- you want to pick a name that you'll love forever :)

*I'm excited to hear your name ideas but I won't be doing name consultations through the comments because there's not enough information/conversation to give good advice. 

it's a very special week at Freckled Nest!

We're training Amber, our new Full Time Customer Service Manager and Artist's Assistant-- she's incredible, catching on fast and we're already trading clothes! It's one of the benefits ;)

Working at the Park

All summer, we've had daydreams of working at one of the parks surrounding our office... it was like a magical land was waiting for us and inspiration would hit peeks it's never seen before because we'd be right within nature, feeling the breeze, doing what we love, hearing children giggle in the background with the smell of flowers all around us (dramatics added). Clearly only good things could happen working at the park.

We recently decided "let's go tomorrow" and we had our date for the park :) Seperately, Kyla and I both packed little picnics for the two of us (unaware that each other was doing the same), we wore parky clothes, and arrived that morning at the office ready to "pack up". I can only compare our pack-up experience to that of new parents preparing their child for it's first outing-- they account for everything and too much and way over think it. That's what we did.

Since we wouldn't have internet, we pdf'd everything we 'might' need from online plus charged our computers to their max, brought cameras, drinks, snacks, blankets (LA likes blankets), roll-out pads, pillows, phones, a speaker, binder of all our work stuff, a rolling cart to carry it all--- like, it was dramatic! lol!

And then we walked across the street to the park. Just across the street. We wimped out on going to the far park with fountations incase we needed something, we could easily run back. Like we didn't have the whole office in our cart ;)

We set up our cute workspace for the afternoon and quickly got distracted-- "Hey, I wonder if we can get a signal on our wifi from here??"

I went to the edge of the park and got all excited when "FN DESIGN" showed up in the signals list... "WE COULD WORK HERE ALL THE TIME!" I thought to myself (squeal/yelling in my head). I came back to our blanket fort and started to work...

THEN, it started raining, we freaked out, packed up in superspeed as if we were going to melt and ran back to the office to work at our desks, eating a picnic. We haven't tried the park again since, computers and parks don't mix ;)

flashback to 2007

When Freckled Nest began, Design Teams were all the rage (a scrapbooking thing) and I wanted to have one for Freckled Nest :) We didn't have a kit club though and the company was still very young, but I had 9 wonderful friends online who believed in FN's future and wanted to be a part of making things happen :) We had a private blog where we discussed FN progress and ideas week to week and supported each other in all of our creative goals... it was a really sweet little community and we called ourselves the "Freckled Nest Chicks" (we punned up ever aspect we could). The club ran for about a year and dissolved after life got busier and busier for each of us... but I still often think back to our group and what a positive impact these 9 women had on me and FN. (Hi Chicks if you're reading this, xo!!)

I recently got an email from my friend Kristen (one of the Chicks) who had come across one of the newsletters I sent out in 2007. I got so excited and nostalgic, it was awesome-- seeing my blind eagerness, remembering each of those sales and growing stats as a celebration with the girls, talking new products and ideas, remembering the drama of our 75 handmade bags that had the potential of reaching Oprah... and constantly dreaming of Freckled Nest being my full time career someday. I had no idea how real that would be and the potential this company held. My dream did come true-- I get to do what I love every-day, FN is successful & flourishing, plus I gained the best business partner ever and FN now has a team of 12 (with a new full time Customer Service Manager & Artists Assistant being introduced in August) and our webdesign team will be growing again soon! It's incredible and I'm so thankful and happy!!! :)

At the time our "Tweet" newsletter was top secret type stuff, we held our cards close ;) ... but today I'm loving the opportunity to share it. We started small and have come so far in 5 years. I hope that this encourages you to believe in your dreams and GO FOR THEM :) They can happen :)

Love Leigh-Ann

My Style & Inspiration Board

My dad installed these two large bulletin boards in our studio, the same day we got our curtains and he told Kyla she reminded him of Waldo (and she liked it). The left edge is my style, the right edge is Kyla's style and the middle will be for our combined style-- like that math diagram of two circles overlapping at the center :) I thought it would be fun to show you my board so far with little descriptions...

1 - Bowtie. I love a hunk in a bowtie.

2 - Lola as a Puppy. The summer I adopted Lola, I was living at a camp and not really enjoying it. Lola made me so happy and we took naps together every day.

3 - $5. Lola ate half the ten dollar bill and instead of letting it bother me, I pinned it to my board and laugh at her math skills.

4 - Plastic Bag Heart. I love lopsided hearts... I put them on almost everything and made this one by fusing plastic bags (tutorial here).

The tree above the $bill is a necklace charm that was made from a metal bowl by a Manitoba Artist (I bought it at a craft sale years ago, can't remember the company name).

5 - Polka Dot Elephant. This was from one of my first blog designs, I painted a childboard elephant and embossed polka dots randomly :) Pic.

6 - Button Collector Print. This is the first print I bought online and I still love it like crazy :) Feels like a photobooth, it's my favorite colors and she wears buttons! From The Black Apple.

7 - Pink note from Kyla. I came back from lunch and opened my laptop to find this little note from Kyla: "Guess What? You make everyday a kajillion times more fun". I teared up-- I've always wanted a friend that left little notes like I do and then I giggled-- right before I came inside, I'd drawn a heart in the snow on her car window :) We're perfect for each other :)

8 - Cloud 9. After my divorce, I thought no one would ever love me again and I put my dreams with Freckled Nest on the back burner while my heart mended. Time passed and I met Keith and I was like a giddy teenager with her first boyfriend-- and my dreams were rejuvenated and I felt like my face was frozen in a smile. When I saw this print by Mallory, I bought it to celebrate and remember my new beginnings :) Still so happy :)

9 - Lightbulbs. I go through obsessive phases of style inspiration, last summer was lightbulbs, currently I'm big on chemistry, doctors and science (it's been brewing for a year and suddenly its so easy to thrift science stuff).

10 - Gift Card from Kody. My brother gave everyone in our family a ticket to the gunshow for Christmas. I love his humor (and budget).

11 - Brownie Badges. I was a pixie and performed "Don't Worry Be Happy" with Melissa Russell in our brownie talent show. Pretty excited to be a brownie leader someday when I have a daughter :)

12 - Cardboard Letter B. I don't know why I have this, I just like it :)

13 - Catherine Holm Kettle Screenprint. My friend Chantilly sent me a few of her awesome screenprints on vintage fabric :) I'm going to use them when I start mini-albuming again, soon :)

14 - #4. For Keith, Me, Lola and Tom :)

15 - 3 Moves to Make-Out. This is my Grandpa laying the moves on my Grandma. When I asked Grandma to tell me the story, she blushed and giggled, then quickly composed herself and said "It was all on the up and up!". Grandpa was proudly chuckling beside her :) See pic.

16 - Shipping clips. Kyla keeps track of etsy order progress with these clips. Simple and effective :)

17 - Cooing Photobooth Pic. When we were driving to pick up puppy Tom in Steinbach, we started doing this thing where we hug invisible future puppy so tight and silent squeal. Then it became a regular representation of extreme excitement and we usually do it in sync.

18 - Favorite Bottle Caps. Bought a cool bottle cap collection on Etsy and these were my six faves. Full set here.

19 - Woman and Man Label. I just like it :)

20 - Political Pins. My brother and I like to do the "I'm 50" snl skit, I like the Keep it Up encouragement and Nixon is my favorite watch brand :) And I looooove pins :)

21 - Science Badge. Goes with my current chemistry and microscope obsession :) I might sew this one onto a cardigan and wear it with my librarian pin :) Is a lab coat too fashion-forward?

22- Brownie Badges. I numbered this one twice by accident. New brownie story: I scored a full collection of brownie badges for $4 last week. Endzone dance.

Today's the last day to reserve an April ad space on Freckled Nest. The XL ad is still available if you'd like a top spot and special feature post in April (small ads available also). Email Hello@FreckledNest.com for more info :)

A peek in...

Yesterday we put up our Freckled Nest window vinyl :) It was so exciting I got the high pitched giggles and little jumps!!

I ordered these window vinyls 2 years ago for my car window but ended up leaving them off because my boyfriend is practicing to be a racecar driver and I didn't want to take credit for that ;)

NEWS: I thought this was a good time to share, Kyla is not an employee, she's my new forever and ever business partner :) We now co-own Freckled Nest and we're SOOOOOO excited!!! We bought special jewelry (Kyla necklace, LA ring) to signify our new 'marriage', lol.

xox, Leigh-Ann

"You have a good imagination Simon"

Yesterday my favorite Morden friends came by Lune and Freckled Nest for a visit and Kyla and I went for lunch with Holly and Jenna at a favorite local spot, Kawaii Crepe!

We had a fun girl visit that included a little hat party and Jill's son Luke welcoming Holly's son Simon to the shop :) At one point, we overheard Luke say "You have a good imagination Simon"... we melted right then and there!!!

Check out the cool "LA" product my friend Corey Marie found (seen on my desktop)! I like the as seen on tv part ;)

2nd home...

Now Hiring

Freckled Nest Design is growing and we are looking for talented designers! We are currently a team of three and we are receiving so many orders that we need a bigger team. Yay!!

Our designers start with a natural instinct for design along with an understanding of photography & photoshop and a strong connection in the blogging community. Upon joining the team, you will become fully trained, receive ongoing support, inspiration and education as well as represention from a prominant blog design company at the top of their game, Freckled Nest Design!

Our office is in Winnipeg Canada, but you don't have to be-- with the beauty of the internet, we hire Internationally as long as English is your main language. This can be a great part time job that fits your schedule and gives you the chance to work with a fab team and wonderful clients from around the world!

We are like a family, non-competetive and entirely supportive! Each Freckled Nest Designer has a signature style and specialty, offering our clients a great selection as they pick their perfect designer. As a Freckled Nest Designer, you will work directly with your own clients (who chose you), with Leigh-Ann and Kyla approving projects and supporting you along the way.

If you are a cheery, personable person with a 'real-life' design style that compliments Freckled Nest's asthetic and you have the ability to design for others, please email FreckledNest@gmail.com and include the following info:

1. Tell us about yourself and what's important to you in life (purpose, impact, connections, interests, inspirations, etc).

2. How would you describe your design style?

3. Links to your Online World (Blog, Flickr, Facebook, Twitter, etc)

4. A link to your design portfolio or links to the blog designs you've done in the past (showing the most recent first).

5. Your availablilty (start time and hours per month).

Note

- Please send your application by Monday morning (Dec.13) and responses will be sent on Thursday, Dec. 16th.

- We appreciate all design styles but we are mainly looking for designers with a real-life asthetic, not a digital-scrapbook style.

- HTML/CSS knowledge is valuable but not necessary; we have a team!

- We've decided to hold off our FN Design site launch (originally Dec.13) until January so that we can launch with our new team :)