Featured Vendor - Uptown Girl Designs

Today's featured vendor is the lovely Uptown Girl Designs. The Uptown Girl Designs studio is full of fabulous designs that celebrate babies, weddings, birthdays, holidays and so much more! They also have wonderful designs for personal note cards and thank you cards. Kristina's designs are AMAZING and so unique! I HIGHLY suggest going to her website and checking them out yourself.

Here are a few of my favorites:

Baby Boy Birth Announcement

Save The Date

Baby Shower

Q&A with Kristina:

What inspired you to start your business?
My daughter, Gabby, is my inspiration for Uptown Girl Designs. It
started when she was born and I wanted a modern and chic birth announcement. They were hard to come by. Everything seemed so generic. I eventually did find something but during her first year I started designing my own cards for her events. It didn't take long for me to realize what wanted to do. I had always dreamed of being my own boss. I was tired of "working for the man". I decided in early 2007 to work towards starting my own company. My hubby Tim was 110% supportive, and is even more so today. I want Gabby to see what can be accomplished with hard work. To never give up. To dream big and hope for more. Always.

What exactly does Uptown Girl Designs entail?
At Uptown Girl Designs we love everything and anything about babies and birthdays and weddings and showers. Well, basically any reason to throw a party! From the simplest of backyard bbq's to the swankiest of soirees, we can create the perfect invitation to set the tone for any party or event. And we know that introducing a baby to the world is such a joyous event and you are excited to share photos and details with family & friends. Our birth announcements are simply sweet and undeniably unique! We also have really fancy Thank You notes! What has happened to this important form of gratitude? When you take the time to use some personal stationary it really says something about your character and sends a message that you truly are thankful. All of this and more can be found here at Uptown Girl Designs - high-quality, affordable and one of a kind cards made with lots of love!

What advice would you give other female entrepreneurs?
My advice for other female entrepreneurs is to never give up and connect with other female entrepreneurs!! One of the highlights of starting my business is meeting all the other amazing, creative and smart women I've met. If I see that someone else is out there, working hard at their dream, that makes me want mine even more. Quitting is easy and anyone can do that. Staying focused and not giving up is what will set you apart.

What are 3 things people don't know about you?
Three things people may not know about me... I'm a HUGE Twilight fan{TEAM EDWARD}!... I completed a 1/2 marathon (mostly walking, but I didit!)... I dream of someday taking an improv class (hey, I think I'm funny).

Thank you again Kristina!!

www.uptowngirldesigns.com
http://twitter.com/missuptowngirl

Monday Inspiration - Bachelorette Party in Key West

4 more days and I will be in Key West with 8 amazing chicas on my BFF's bachelorette party! This bachelorette party has been a huge inspiration to get through the long hours at work & get my butt to the gym!


You have heard me mention Amy in prior posts, but she has been my best friend since first grade. Her family was a 2nd family to me and sometimes I spent more time over there. We are going to have so much fun and I cannot wait for some fun in the sun.

Congrats again Amy! LYLAS!!

Fribay Fab - SNOW SNOW SNOW

Yet another weekend that is threatened by snow. We got about 4-5 inches overnight and may get some more tomorrow! Just enough to make the commute to work a pain. Oh and one of my friends is getting married today :( Even though snow is a pain, it makes for BEAUTIFUL pictures!

Here are a few beauties to cheer up your Friday:

toxel.comwebecoist.com

thisislondon.co.uk

iamtheweather.com

TGIF!!!!

Featured Vendor - Amy Cornwell

Amy Cornwell is another amazing person I met on twitter. I am completely in love with her work. All her designs are original and one of a kind! She makes a variety of items from stamped to beaded pieces. I am mildly obsessed with stamped items and cannot wait to purchase something! Amy is definitely someone worth keeping an eye on :)

Here are some of my favorite pieces:

Q&A with Amy:

What inspired you to start your business?

I started my business at the end of 2003 after attending a jewelry party and realizing that I could do this myself! I had started making jewelry around 1996 (in High School) to make money for Spring Break but didn't get back into it until 2003 when I had my first at-home party. It did so well that I thought I'd make it official in 2004 and registered my business. Sales drastically took off in 2007 when I really pushed the business on Etsy and started doing stamped, personalized items.

What exactly does Amy Cornwell entail?

95% of what I sell is stamped, personalized items. I also still offer beaded items and some sewn goods. I love all things creative so at times you'll see items besides stamped goods in the shop. I like to share with others the items I create. I'm continually adding new stamped items to the shop because I have a {slight} addiction to blanks and new necklaces.

What advice would you give other female entrepreneurs?

Keep trying! It's taken me a long time to get consistent sales on Etsy and growing my website at amycornwell.com. Just keep relisting items on Etsy, telling others about your product via Twitter and Facebook. Promote, promote, promote! Try new things and ways of advertising. Make a name and brand for yourself. Have outstanding customer service because word of mouth {I believe} is the most effective way to grow.

What are 3 things people don't know about you?

This is a tough one! I'd say 1) I'm loyal to a fault, 2) I'm insecure and 3) I love being generous when I'm able to.

Thank you Amy!!!!!

www.amycornwell.com
http://twitter.com/amycornwell

Tuesday Shoesday #2 - Alternative Wedding Shoe

IF I did not have a destination wedding that I went barefoot at, I would have loved to wear glitter wedding shoes. I absolutely love these Christian Louboutin Glitter-Covered Leather Peep Toes! They are amazing and would add such a glam touch to your wedding attire!

Tuesday Shoesday - Cold Weather

Since it is suppose to snow again this weekend in Delaware, I thought it was appropriate to do this week's tuesday shoesday on cold weather shoes. There is no reason you cannot look fashionable in the snow :)

Here are some of my favorite cold weather shoes:

Classic Tall Ugg
Can't go wrong with this one!
Anne Klein Reikan
Ugg Lonnie

STAY WARM :)

Monday Inspiration - Destination Diva 2011

Destination Diva is going to have a busy and fun 2011! This is will the first full year in business and I have SOOOO many ideas!! Also, I will be launching my new website in the next few weeks.

Sneak Peak of 2011

• You will see butterflies
  
• More glitter
• New children mini-diva collection
• More classes
• New book published - Princess Jewels: The Glitter Ball

Stay tuned :)

Thank you to all of you ladies who have inspired me in 2010 to push through my first year of business! I have learned so much!