one delightful button gift guide // black friday sale!

so much for goals apparently...two children has required a lot of juggling. if i wake up early to do work, they wake up early. if i stay up late to do work, they can't fall asleep that night. 

it's thanksgiving eve, i'm working like a banshee getting ready for black friday and i had a brainstorm. i finally got both children to nap at the same time. well one is napping, one is having "quiet time" in his room, but regardless its a unicorn kind of moment for me. 

for black friday i am doing a MAJOR sale. my stuff is always free shipping in the US, but friday everything is buy one, get one free (equal or less value). at check out, there is a section for notes and just note what you would like for free. 

also, 19% of profits are still going to young life africa response fund. 

if you are looking for some ideas on how to spend that money....i have some! 

for the hipster

scrabble bookmark

buffalo check earrings

antler headband

for your kids teachers

theo fair trade candy bar

hairties 

bookmark

for the stylish friend

mint keychain

gold web earrings

hairties

these are just a few of the fun combo i came up with...there are obviously endless possibilities ;)

hope you have a happy thanksgiving holiday! 

katie

new keychains + a coupon

finally...some new keychains up in the shop! and just for fun i've discounted keychains 15% off. use code // FALL {sale runs until next tuesday}

mini keychains // approximately 3 inches long. this is the size i currently use and i actually just slip it on my finger when i am running out of hands. 

and full size wristlets // about 5.5 inches in length when folded + fits an average sized wrist

the full size have my new logo on the inside...woot!

also! not advertised, but I am started to monogram individual letters so email me [onedelightfulbutton [AT] gmail.com if you have a monogram request for an additional $2. and if you want a mini design on a wristlet or vice versa...email me and i am happy to customize one for you. 

happy tuesday! 

august sale!

Let's be honest... the seasons are NOT starting to turn yet. I do love some pumpkin themed items, but my summer has flown by with a newborn on my lap so I am going to hold strong, enjoy August and refrain from mentioning any of my favorite pumpkin treats. However, I am doing some prep for the next season and have some new items I am excited to share with you all. 

take 25% off my entire shop (includes free shipping too!) // use the code AUGUST for the next week. 

one delightful business: lessons learned

I have thought for a little while that it might be fun for me to share some things I have learned from owning my own small business. There is certainly a lot I do not know, but I have been running one delightful button for over four years now (hard to believe!). And I feel like there are a lot of tips and tricks and lessons I have learned along the way.

So, my hope is weekly to share something with you.

For my first post though, I will just share some about how I began selling crafts. In 2009, I heard about etsy for the first time. I was working a full-time job with Young Life, but had no kids and some free time. I thought it would be fun to have some sort of craft to make and sell. I was some what crafty already - I liked making cards for friends and in school I loved projects that required some sort of poster or display so I could make it pretty. I also started this blog around that time (under a different name) and I shared about a chair I reupholstered here.

But I didn't really have a "thing". I barely knew how to sew. I had just some random supplies and an idea to start a craft business for fun. (Sounds a little odd to me, but I wouldn't be surprised if that's how a lot of people began on etsy).

In the fall of 2009, I found a jar of vintage, discarded buttons at my favorite antique store in Norfolk, Virginia called "Country Boy". If you live nearby, go. It's the most unrefined antique store and walking through it is like an adventure because there are things piled up everywhere.

I bought the jar and googled "things to make with buttons." This is pre-pinterest era, people. I started then making button earrings and some other accessories surrounding buttons. Soon, I expanded to the fabric button and took some sewing lessons.

I posted on etsy basically immediately after testing out my product to make sure it was wearable. My business name: k bowling designs. Sure, why not? I had my first sale shortly after opening. God bless that woman, I have no clue why she bought these earrings that I photographed under yellow lighting on a white piece of paper.

I continued with etsy, started doing craft shows, began approaching shops about wholesale and consignment, and really started to develop my niche as the button girl. I now sell on an e-commerce site called big cartel (more on that later) and have continued making and selling jewelry and accessories as we have moved from Virginia to Massachusetts. 

I hope some of the things that I have learned will help a reader or two out who is considering starting a craft business or is continuing with a shop they own already. 

Thanks for reading! 

shop update

i have been busy adding new items to my shop. 

here are a few of my favorites! 

i will be adding more magnets soon, but here is a new one. the triangle fabric was designed by me. 

 i had some requests for hokie fabrics...perfect for fall! 

finally, i have add more hair ties + just added headbands to the mix again. i love these arrows + aztec headbands! 

thanks for checking in! be back soon with a two year old baby boy update!

follow along for new products / coupons here: instagram // twitter // facebook

bridal parties

hello all. 

i feel like i should start with a greeting because i so rarely blog. i honestly think about blogging a few times a week. but then...i just do not. so sorry if you were wondering the scuttlebutt is in my world, you could just check instagram or twitter. 

we had a very full summer that i have a few pictures i can share soon, but for now i wanted to share a new idea i had. i occasionally do bridal party gifts and love getting to be a part of that special day! 

so i wanted to make one delightful button a little bit more accessible to brides....

(these two weddings are both friends from richmond, va and they are wearing one delightful button earrings)

for bridal parties, we are doing a discount - that is already added in & you can simply purchase the number you need for your bridal party. i can customize from earrings i already have listed or do a special fabric or color flower to fit your wedding colors. 

and then i will do custom gift wrapping for your bridesmaids...

or specify that you would just like for me to send the gift wrapping supplies 

and you can wrap them yourself. (this might be helpful if you chose different earrings for different bridesmaids)

not a bad deal if i do say so myself. 

be back soon? maybe? 

happy monday! 

perks of my "job"

i really love working with small local shops. most of the shops i sell in are close enough that i can deliver their orders directly to them. the other day jude and i took a little trip about 20 minutes up the road to rockport, ma. it is beautiful...especially in the summer. 

we enjoyed a chocolate filled croissant, one of my favorites.

starting to add this new little stamp on the backs my earrings + accessories. 

happy weekend! cheers to the heat wave almost breaking...but not yet today! we're looking at a heat index of 110! 

back from the beach + hair ties on sale!

 alrighty. back from north carolina and virginia. it was a great packed 10 days and we are gearing up for saranac (our month in the adirondacks).

here's a quick snapshot of us at the wedding we got to be in. jude was the ring bearer (pictured below), philip officiated and i was a bridesmaid. the wedding was the one of our dear friends.

jude did not really fulfill his duties as ring bearer. he got fussy right before i walked down the aisle and i had to carry him. then he exited the ceremony shortly after with our friends who watched him.

but for now, hair ties are on sale at buffalo brickyard...so pop on over for a deal on them!

craft room revealed

 welcome to my happy space. it is still in progress, but after listening to a simple mom podcast recently where she mentioned how rooms are always works in progress, i figured, why not just recognize that it will probably not be perfect, but this is how it is now and it has come a long way.

this former attic is my craft space where i blog, sew and create and also serves as jude's playroom, but i'll save his playroom for another day.

disclaimer: totally still a mess. disclaimer: probably always will be.


so the room is basically a loft - baby gated for the crazy little man. intially i thought his play room would be on the side my things are on. then with all the low walls, i realized i would never be able to relax and trust him on that side of the room by himself so i had to get creative on how i would make that side of the room mine.

there are basically three stations. first is my desk. i ship, print labels, blog, email, etc from here. i love this old desk. it was mine growing up and fortunately my parents let me keep it.

pier one chair from years ago, tj maxx rug

directly behind my desk is my lovely little crafting station. from here - if jude ever is old enough to safely play by himself, i will be able to see him from this desk. the desk is made from an old door we got at antique store for $20 - sawed in half, sanded, painted and attached to the walls. 

i love my old dewey decimal library card organizer that i store supplies in. i keep my goals on a clipboard. right now below you can see my washi tape on a rope. it works for now as storage and is easy to take with me if i need it somewhere else. my husband recently added shelves along the walls recycled from an old bookshelf we tore out of our house. 

i use this old coke crate to store tags. 

station number 3. sewing area. 

k from anthropologie, ikea lamp

my husband hung the ribbons on a dowel that i can take on an off. saves lots of space - and is pretty too.

lots of buttons...
we doubled my shelf space by doing mason jars underneath the shelf as well.

and then as you head back down the stairs, i used the ledge as a book shelf. my grandmother's train case stores extra less used supplies and serves as bookend.

we'll tour jude's playroom soon.

thanks for reading. hope it gave you some ideas for craft storage and inspiration!

shop update + craft room pic

I have been itching to get some new items in my shop. I have had a bit of a slow start to 2013 with our move. You can expect more things to be on the "shelves" soon. And a craft room picture or two. I have been hoping to take some pictures once everything is organized...let's be real though - it will probably never been perfectly organized so i should just take a some pictures anyways...to wet your appetite...

And a newsletter coming out soon. 

shop update!

i've been working hard to get some new products on the "shelves." our little house project has taken quite a bit of time and there is still much to be done. i will post pictures of our house sometime soonish, but there are just so many unfinished things I am just not ready to have it on the world wide web yet. 

however,  i just love these new hair ties.

how can you not love a little sparkle?  being real. i like that they look cute on my wrist and hair. set of 4 for $7. and a few more colors are coming.

and you can expect more new items coming in the next few weeks.

also, have you signed up for our newsletter yet? it will not be a spammy-why did i sign up for this - newsletter, but will certainly offer secret sales and promotions just to newsletter readers. sign up here and you'll automatically get a coupon for 15% off in my shop!

enjoy your tuesday!

christmas 2012

didn't get too many pictures.

here are some highlights. 

baby decorating the tree

traveling to virginia

shrimp + cornbread for dinner in va

dressed up for em's engagement party

take that pinterest. too busy this year. 

christmas eve.

snow in tennessee

river lights in tennessee