Handmade Love: Homespun Happiness

Today is the first edition of Handmade Love: Small Business Editions! Every other Monday I’ll be featuring a handmade business and the creative mind behind the scenes. I figured I might as well start by talking about my own small handmade biz!

How Did Your Shop Start?

It all started when I moved to Texas. I didn’t really know any one here, I wasn’t working and I had a LOT of time on my hands! So I started blogging and making things… and making more and more things… There was no way I could keep them all, so I decided to open an online shop! The first year or so was hit and miss, I had trouble with finding the right format for my shop, couldn’t decide on a name and things just weren’t gel-ing… So I put the shop on the back burner for a while, focused on blogging and doing things I loved. After 6 months it was time to bring it back to life, only this time with a purpose!

I changed the name, found the perfect platform (yay for storenvy!) and relaunched in October of 2012. Now I have an outlet for the things I love to make and a chance to give back a bit too! 25% of everything sold through ShopHomespunHappiness.com goes to help a ministry in Romania that rescues women from slavery and forced prostitution (Read more about that here).

Why Do You Do What You Do?

There are all kinds of reasons behind why I do what I do… the main ones being I love to create, it gives back to and helps my family and it gives me a way to support ministries and causes I love! I mentioned the cause in Romania I support already, the other thing I love to do is instagram sales! Instagram sales help support my family and allow me to be able to donate to specific causes that I wouldn’t be able to otherwise. I also love having goodies to donate to auctions and sales for families in need and adoption fundraisers.

Speaking of which…

If you follow my shop on instagram, then you might have seen a little sneak peek that I posted on Saturday in regards to a fundraiser I’m doing! Well, I’m sharing all the details here first!

Good friends of mine that have been in the process of adopting for quite a while, finally got THE call! A birth mom has selected them!! That means, if everything goes well, in 2-4 weeks they will be bringing home their son!! I couldn’t be more thrilled for them! But with this exciting news comes a whole lot of financial requirements… lawyers fees, things for the baby, adoption agency fees… the list goes on and on!

So here’s the plan…

I am making available 12 exclusive “love you to the moon and back” 5 inch hoops (see a listing for an 8 inch version here)!!! The hoops are $22 each, shipping is included and you get to pick your colors!  The proceeds from these hoops will go to help the L family with the rest of the adoption and lawyer fees. 🙂 To order one you can either email me at busybeingjennifer {at} gmail.com or go to my shop’s instagram and comment with your information!

Anyways…. back to the small biz thing… if you’re interested in being featured, please fill out this form! I’d love to showcase you and your shop!