Here at Gussy has a lot to say {and sew} we love to look at all things beautiful. Beautiful products to help you relax, beautiful colors, beautiful stories about finding joy and inner creativity.
Today is week #23 of my series on Featured Artists, which is a bi-monthly event showcasing fun and sassy handmade shops! I love searching for new wares to show the Gussy community. You can read all back Featured Artist posts by clicking here.
Please join me in welcoming Jennifer at Ellia C. Naturals.
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What inspires you?
My children… everything seems more pure, more vibrant, and more clear through the eyes of a child. Colors are brighter, scents are cleaner, and life in general is fresher. I seem to get my best ideas when I’m either interacting with them or watching them interact with each other.
Share an interesting fact about yourself
My second toe on each foot is the same length as my Big Toe.
How did you come up with your shop name?
After coming up with a basic collection of products to help my third son’s severe eczema, I decided to explore the possibility of an expanded line of all-natural bath & body products designed to meet the needs of the entire family. A large part of this experimentation, as well as the decision to formally jump into the realm of retail, came while I was pregnant with our fourth child, Ellia. Both product development and my growing belly occupied a large portion of my thoughts during that time. Ellia’s middle initial is C and my mission for the company was to provide skin care alternatives that were not only pampering and luxurious, but also completely natural and chemical-free. Thus was the beginning of ElliaCNaturals.
If you had to describe yourself in a word, what would that word be?
Blessed.
What made you decide to open up shop?
When I saw the results that my products were having on my son’s skin (as well as his siblings, who have generally sensitive skin). A number of family and friends who knew about my son’s eczema, as well as his pediatrician, began to notice the drastic improvement in his skin and ask me about what I was using on him. I had numerous requests to make samples of what I was using on my son and the people for whom I agreed to make these samples experienced wonderful results as well.
Name your favorite thing about selling handmade.
Creative freedom. Although I have a core group of products that make up the bones of each collection, I feel I have more creative freedom to offer limited edition items stemming from my own experimentation than I would if I were making items under the constraints of mass production. I also have the ability to easily custom design products for clients who may have special skin care needs or essential oil preferences.
Do you have a day job or sell full-time?
In 2007 I took an indeterminate hiatus from my career in physical therapy due to a job transfer incurred by my husband. I am currently a SAHM/WAHM and sell my ElliaCNaturals line through my independent online store, Bullfrogs & Butterflies Baby Boutique, llc.
Give us a little glimpse into what a typical day in your life looks like.
Get up and shower @ 6:30am. Make breakfast, feed/dress the kiddos, and get everyone to school by 8:40am to drop off my kindergartner and preschooler. Back home to put the baby down for a nap. Check email, answer Twitter and Facebook, make blog updates, and try desperately not to get sucked into the Twitter Black Hole! Play with my 2 y.o. outside and try to get some gardening done. Squeeze in some bubble fun. Back to school at 11:45am to pick up my preschooler, then back home for lunch and my 2 y.o.’s nap. Make product and process orders while jumping in intermittently to play with my 4 y.o. and 1 y.o. Back to school at 3:00pm for kindergarten pick-up. Return home for baby’s second nap (won’t last much longer!) and straightening of the house while the three boys play. Start dinner and try to squeeze in a little more outside time with the kiddos. 6pm, Daddy’s home! Dinner with the family followed by baseball or soccer practice/game. Back home for kindergarten reading homework, baths, and bedtime (for the munchkins!). Spend some quality time with hubby. Finish remaining orders, prep shipments for delivery, and indulge in some social media marketing before calling it quits around midnight :].
What would you like to learn to do?
I would love to learn to sew with some degree of skill (hint, hint, Ms. Gussy!). Countless times I have had the inspiration for an item of clothing for one or more of the kiddos or a cute accessory for mama and no means of bringing the idea to reality. I would love to be able to do that!
What are you listening to right now?
Jim Brickman, Kutless, and Natalie Grant to name just a few :].
Name one place you must visit in your lifetime and why.
Italy. The romance, the architecture, and the food… need I say more?
The Giveaway Goods:
Ellia C. Naturals is giving away a Summer Glow Gift Set
{includes an 8oz One Lump or Two Solid Sugar Scrub; 4 oz Milky Way Creamy Milk Bath; 1 oz Lip Lock Brown Sugar Lip Polish; and Candy Cane Kisses Lip Smoother.}
To enter:
Leave a comment sharing something positive about your day.
For extra entries {leave a comment for each}:
- Tweet about this: Enter to win a Summer Glow Gift Set via @ElliaCNaturals on @GussySews’ blog http://u.nu/8rrua
- Blog about it {please share permalink}
EXTRA INFO:
- The giveaway will close Tuesday, June 1 at 10 pm CST, and the winner will be announced the following day
- An email address must be listed on your blog profile or in the comment you leave
Readers can save 10% on the Bullfrogs and Butterflies,
the parent company of ECN, by entering GUSSY at checkout.
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Additional links for Ellia C. Naturals:
Twitter
Facebook Fan Page
Newsletter
LOVE this!! I’m slightly obsessed with bath & body products! Today was a great day! The sun is shining and it is absolutely gorgeous outside. My daughter also took two great naps, which always makes the day a bit brighter, for both of us! :)
Tweet! http://twitter.com/butterfly1979_/status/14861443542
Oh Happy Day!
Today was great because I babysat and the kids and I laughed a lot! =)
Oh and I finished book #2 of the summer and began book #3…it is the summer of reading!
It all looks so scrumptious!
Today we had hummingbirds at the feeder, fun in the sun and the sprinkler, and a little time in the garden! :-)
These items look wonderful! I’m part of FWSW(a group committed to making healthy life changes) we had great work out this am and after a crazy few weeks I will have a job nxt school yr!
The best thing about my day is that it was my 2nd to last day before Maternity Leave :) Yay babies!!!!
I caught up with my good friend today over toasted nori burritos and homemade pickles. It was just what I needed to lift my soul-best friends, good food, great conversation-PERFECT! :)
Today, while roller blading, I feel over a speedbump but felt confident to get up and keep going rather then go home! I felt good about myself and that is always a positive!
The products look amazing; it’s always amazing to hear about women, especially mommies, starting their own business and doing things they love!
I got to take a nap with my daughter today!
I get to see my bestest tomorrow and I have been excited all day about it!
Those are some FABULOUS looking goodies! :) Something positive you say…how about eating a bowl full of sweet…delicious strawberries and whipped creme? Oh, yeah it was that good! lol..
That gift set looks amazing!
Today some good friends are getting married, and my husband and I get to dress up and celebrate with them and other friends from high school!
Love the carefree days of Spring and Summer with my two girls, nothing like it! Watermelon dripping all over them, sprinklers and of course, naps in the grass!
My hubby cooked supper!! That is my positive for the day!
love this day!!! sunshine, low humidity, gardening, playing….blessed!
Found a new favorite flavor ice cream… chocolate cherry nut truffle. YUMMY!!!!!
The sun is shining. It’s a beautiful day. So thankful that God granted me another day.
mom2chelnjustin (AT) gmail Dot com
My day turned positive when I tried a new breakfast sandwich at Subway and discovered I didn’t have to work! *squeal*
It’s Friday, which is positive enough for me! Thank you so much for this opportunity, as the bath and body products all sound so yummy! :)
cmyersdoyle@aol.com
I am loving today because God has given me another chance to get it right!
This MN weather has really been cheering my up lately! And on top of that…it’s FRIDAY!!
Well, I have a long weekend ahead with time to spend with loved ones, it’s payday, I’m going out to watch many, many hot air balloons send off into the sky at a festival tonight, and this post is making this friday look pretty sweet! Ok, that was more than one.
My kiddos just finished school for summer, and I get to work from home with them!
My hubby surprised me at work with lunch, my company is closing our offices early today for the Memorial Day weekend, and my eyes have been treated to so much Etsy and otherwise-handmade gorgeousness lately that I’m feeling SO inspired. Hooray Friday and the beauty of the little happy fragments in life!
Its Friday! That sounds pretty positive to me!
So many positive things today! It was nice and cool and I really enjoyed getting the house ready for guests and a cookout tomorrow!
Oh I’m sold on the non oily sugar scrub woohoo. Now something positive…. I had a wonderful day with my hubby…shopping lol. Since we never received gifts for our wedding, today we picked out a grown up china set & we both agreed on & loved the set we picked.
lots of time to myself!
The most positive thing in my day is my 11 month old daughter climbing a stepladder for 20 minutes and was so excited by it! She doesn’t even know how to walk on her own yet and she is climbing a stepladder! So funny!
I tweeted about this great offer!
I’m grateful to have been able to spend a relaxing afternoon in the sewing room today!
My kids love green beans and ate their whole serving for dinner! Thanks for the opportunity!
Tweeted – @narniamum. Thanks!
We are having homemade biscuits and gravy 2 days in a row–I love holiday weekends! Thank you for a great giveaway, i would love to try these yummy products!
Today I am thankful for the heroes that risk their lives every day so that we may have freedom. Happy Memorial Day!
Thanks for the opportunity!
I get to spend today with my family-I just love that!
leslic(at)chandlerconsulting(dot)com
Today, and this whole weekend, were great because I got to visit my dad.
Thanks!
Elena
eroscoe@gmail.com
I am loving today because it is one day closer to our first family vacation!
xoxo~meg
i had an absolutely wonderful just hanging out in the pool with my girls impromptu in our clothes! awesome!!
tweet!!
http://twitter.com/Mama23Bears/status/15208503000
I came home to a clean house and shared a lovely home cooked meal with my husband. :)