July has been a mixed bag of fun for Small Shops, Big Hearts! From a graphic design artist, to handmade jewlery, to vintage thrifting finds, July has seen a beautiful mix of small shop owners and creations. It’s been such a positive experience to talk and work with so many small business owners across the globe. I’m always amazed at the passion tucked behind each one of these small shops, and the owners who bring that magic to life.
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Without further ado, here are the lovely shop owners of July:
Anna, from A Grape Design, started her shop after freelancing as an illustrator in Sweden. Anna wanted to do more than just commission work for companies; she thought it would be fun to start selling the illustrations she made “just for fun”. Shortly after, A Grape Design was born!
♥ Favorite Shop Item: Anna’s shop is filled with adorable + unique illustrations. Long before I had introduced myself to Anna + explained Small Shops, Big Hearts, I caught sight of the ‘When You’re Strange’ design floating around online. It was love at first sight, making this an easy choice for a shop favorite.
Being a small business owner “means having to do all of the work for yourself, including economy and so on, which is very hard. Also, it can be a bit lonely! But the positive sides of being a small business owner are so great, it makes it all totally worth it.”
– Anna { shop / blog / facebook / twitter / instagram }
Khristi, of Ktnunna Handmade Jewelry + Accessories, started making jewelry when her daughter was just a baby. She began creating pretty little things for mama and baby to wear. At the suggestion of her friends and family, Khristi opened Ktnunna in 2009. She has been surprised and humbled at the support and encouragement she has received since beginning the business.
♥ Favorite Shop Item: This shop is filled to the top with handmade creations – bracelets, earrings, necklaces – you name it, Khristi has created it. Out of all of her shop items, Khristi’s little birdie bracelet captured my heart. The soft earth-toned beads and simplistic style makes this bracelet a true teasure.
“Being a small shop owner, I am able to choose my own work hours and work at my own pace. I also get the satisfaction of knowing that I’ve done this all myself. All jewelry and accessories are handcrafted by me in my home studio in North Carolina. The shop listings, marketing, sales, social media pages, Etsy conversations, packaging, and shipping are all done by me personally. In a world filled with large corporations and companies, I think it’s a refreshing change to receive a handmade item that was made just for you and packaged with care.”
- Khristi { shop / facebook / twitter }
Carrie, of Little Big Shop, started her shop as a way to financially contribute to her family while she stayed home with the kids. Carrie chose to sell vintage because thrifting is her favorite hobby and she always buy more than she could possibly need (or have room for). Little Big Shop has been such a great creative outlet for Carrie because the act of thrifting is such a creative one.
♥ Favorite Shop Item: I’m a vintage lover + dedicated thrifter, so every item in Carrie’s shop is dream-worthy! I especially adore her collection of vintage state plates, with Washington’s being my absolute favorite. The vintage gold pops alongside the lovely colored attractions found within the state, making this the perfect item to warm any home.
“Being a small business means flexibility and creativity, following my dreams and learning how to strike out on my own. Everything I sell in my shop is something I love and would gladly keep, so my small business is also an exercise in letting things go. :)”
– Carrie { shop / blog / twitter / instagram }
Kristen, of Thimblepress, let curiosity get the best of her in 2011. She purchased a 1925 Chandler + Price letterpress and opened up her shop, Thimblepress! Thimblepress is not just a letterpress studio; Kristen also dabbles in art, sewing, woodworking + more.
♥ Favorite Shop Item: Every design created by Kristen pops off the page in an eye-catching way. I adore her small print that reminds us even mighty oaks grow from tiny acorns. Her state flower art collection is breathtakingly beautiful as well!
Kristen was hard at work + out of state during the time of her feature; unfortunately, she was unable to give a statement about what it means to be a small business owner.
– Kristen { shop / blog / facebook / twitter / instagram }
Do you have a favorite small shop or business?
What handmade goods have you purchased recently?
