Guest Feature: Inspired by Sisters

Good day, blog friends. I have a special treat for you today! I'm sharing an interview with my good friend, Taryn about the growing business she owns with her sister, Sierra ~ Inspired by Sisters. Read on to learn about their inspiring creativity, and a special promotion at the end of this post.


Sierra and Taryn ~ Inspired by Sisters

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Taryn, tell us about Inspired by Sisters and how the company got started.
My sister, Sierra, and I were really craving a way to build more time for creativity in our lives and use it to generate something positive. Our mother had us addicted to arts and crafts at a young age, but we felt disconnected with that part of ourselves through the stress of college and post-college life. We knew that if we could develop a business out of our passions, we would make more time for it and make more time for each other. We chose to paint inspirational quotes because we really wanted a way to spread smiles, inspirations, and our favorite affirmations. We wanted our work to be beautiful reminders of a happier way to live.

Between you and your sister, what are your individual roles?
Sierra, my younger sister, is in school for graphic design and she is truly the brains behind all our marketing campaigns, our branding, and the detailed artistic work. We both share in the painting process, but I have no problem admitting that the more intricate art work (such as the painting below) is done by my very talented sister. I am in charge of all of our social media, customer service, and the Indulge product line. However, we believe in a sense of fluidity within the company, so we are both more than capable of assisting the other with her role and filling in as needed.

What was the inspiration behind your Indulge product line?

Indulge is a line of all-natural body products that I have been perfecting for years. I have always been interested in natural living and had spent large amounts of money on “organic” products and then after doing research, I was discovering that a lot of what I used wasn’t so natural. I wanted to simplify my products, especially their list of ingredients. All of our Indulge items have easy to read, minimal ingredients. In addition, we really wanted to design products that encourage us to spend time taking care of ourselves. We created a line that reminds us to slow it down, soak our feet, lay back in the tub with a glass of wine, enjoy luxurious creams, etc. Indulge really embodies that message and became another way for us to spread the love.

I know you offer a wide variety of custom orders. How do people order something customizable?
Custom orders are our favorite! For painting, customers will often select a painting they already love, but ask to change colors, font style, or quote. Other times, they will send us some pictures of what they are looking for and we can help them to come up with a design. We are able to design a digital version of what we hope to painting will look like and will not start painting on an actual canvas until the buyer is in love with the design. My favorite custom orders, however, are the Indulge products. We have a large list of essential oils that our customers are able to pick and choose to blend into a truly unique scent or they can choose from one of my favorites. I am always inspired by the fragrances our buyers put together that I never would have considered.

 

Where do you sell your wares and where can new customers find you?
We have been selling nationally on Etsy for just over a year and have very recently expanded our availability internationally. We do a number of local vendor events in Arizona, including farmer’s markets, holiday events, and house parties. We always encourage our local shoppers to contact us  through Facebook or email to avoid the shipping fees on Etsy, as we do free delivery throughout most of the East Valley and Maricopa, Arizona. We are currently working on a website that we hope to have up by the summer time.

Is there anything else you would like my readers to know about your business?

We are all about spreading inspiration and making new connections. Facebook is one of the best ways we get to interact with our customers, share quotes and smiles. More importantly, social media is the best way to stay up-to-date with our current promotions, take advantage of coupons, and chat with us. We are currently doing an Etsy discount code for Paper Turtle readers! Use the promo code “PAPERTURTLE” for a very exclusive 25% off all orders until March 15, 2016! 

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Visit Inspired by Sisters on Etsy (remember to use your exclusive promo code PAPERTURTLE)

Find and follow Inspired by Sisters on Facebook

You can email Taryn at: inspiredbysisters@gmail.com

And check out Taryn's blog here.

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Wishing Inspired by Sisters enormous success!
Big thanks to Taryn for being my guest today.

♥

Seeds of Hope ~ Guest Blogger and a Giveaway

My cousin, Dana, works with an organization called Seeds of Hope, and today I'm sharing information about them by way of an interview with her. At the end of this post I'm hosting a giveaway, so be sure to read to the end to find out how to enter to win the prize.

Deb:  What is Seeds of Hope?

Dana: Seeds of Hope exists to eradicate the sexual exploitation of children in Costa Rica. 

Most people don't realize the breadth of human trafficking. There are an estimated 27 MILLION people trafficked world wide.

In fact, it's the second largest criminal industry behind drug sales.

- 80% of victims have been sexually trafficked

- 800 to 900 thousand are trafficked across international borders every year

- Average age: 12-14 years old

- Average cost of a slave 90.00 world wide

- Top 3 States: California, Texas, New York

Deb: Why is human trafficking such a problem in Costa Rica?

Dana: Although Costa Rica is the most developed nation in all of Central America, the poverty there can be staggering in smaller villages. Children there are trafficked by their mothers out of necessity and as a generational occupation because no one has offered any other way of life. Seeds of Hope steps into to these disadvantaged communities and provides a way to freedom.

Sexual exploitation exists in Costa Rica due to the fact that it is a popular tourist destination. Prostitution is legal over the age of 18. The average age of a sex tourist is 55 and older and generally American due to Costa Rica’s proximity to the US.


Deb: How is Seeds of Hope helping girls in Costa Rica?

Dana: When Seeds of Hope was first founded in January 2012, our sole goal was to open a safe house for girls caught in trafficking, but it quickly became apparent that the need was far greater than those we could house. We did open a safe house in June 2013 and are fully licensed. We housed four girls at a rate of $6,000 per month. The girls eventually ran away in November 2013. We closed the safe house but maintain our licensing for emergency situations. Children in Costa Rica, unlike the US, are given the option of staying with their mothers who are trafficking them, or moving into what is considered foster care. Most children, although they hate the lifestyle, choose to live with their mothers. This is where Seeds of Hope comes in.

We started a clubhouse program in a high risk/exploitive village. We offer classes 6 to 7 days a week in various subjects such as: vocational training, English, spiritual classes, creative arts, wood working, and group counseling. In the past we’ve partnered with Love and Scissors, who spent three months in our program teaching our girls the art of hair styling. The girls are then given a certificate and are able to apprentice in local salons.

A number of our exploited girls make jewelry in return for food and utilities. No money is exchanged. Groceries are purchased and distributed on Tuesdays. Bills are paid directly as they are due. We’ve expanded since our first clubhouse opened in April 2012. We now have three clubhouses in Costa Rica with a third and fourth opening this November and February of next year. We’ve also started a boys program offering the same classes mentioned above. 

Deb: How can we help?

Dana: Since we are expanding based on need, we are in desperate need of long term volunteers, fluent in Spanish, who can raise support to live in Costa Rica for a minimum of 9 months or more. Of course, we are solely funded by private donations and would love financial support even if it is $10 a month. Our average donor gives $25 a month. Please SHARE our website and Facebook page with everyone you know! Purchase our jewelry as 100% of the proceeds goes back to those making jewelry. Spread the word!



I'm hosting a giveaway in connection with today's post. I own a couple of Seeds of Hope bracelets and wear them all the time ~ my favorites!!! If you'd like to enter for a chance to win the bracelet shown in the photo above, please leave a comment either here on my blog, or under my post on Facebook. If you share about this giveaway on any other social media, let me know and I'll give you an extra entry. I'll announce the winner, chosen in a random drawing, on my blog next Monday, November 10th.

♥

Visit Seeds of Hope's website by clicking here.

You can check out more of the jewelry for sale by clicking here.

You can read Dana's bio here, and watch a video with lots of interesting information by clicking here. (Dana's interview begins at 20.00.)

My Uncle Wes is My Guest Blogger Today ♥

When my mom's brother, Wes, spoke at her funeral services last year, he told the sweetest stories of her. I asked if he'd mind writing a blog post for me so that I could share those stories with my readers in a little different approach to Team Teal Tuesday. I know it wasn't easy for him to write, but I think he did a great job.

So, without further adieu, please welcome my awesome uncle, Wes.

♥ ♥ ♥

Marti {age 17}, Wes {15}, Kathy {8}, Grandpa, Sue {10} Grandma, Ken {12}

Christmas Day, 1959

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I have a lot of images from my early years - not quite refined enough to be memories. A constant in those images is Marti; I sense her presence over me in a nurturing way. As the memories become more definite, so does the nurturing. As the third born to her second born, I guess her desire to care for her little brother was very strong.

 

I can remember her anguish when I stepped on a nail; I can remember walking to the store, hand in hand, down a sidewalk in Tolleson, Arizona. My strongest memory of her early nurturing comes from my first day of school.  I'm not sure why that event is so clear, but I know she took me to my first classroom and checked on me several times during the day. I think she stayed close that first week. I can recall her happiness when I had made my first friend - that probably relieved her of some responsibility.

 

Our early years were close with Marti being the boss-er and me the boss-ee.  I think these respective roles continued until the day we each realized she was no longer looking down at me nor me looking up at her. I shot up in height and she shot up in maturity and we started growing apart. Besides, I now had a younger brother in drastic need of being picked on. By the time Marti reached her teenage years, our relationship had resolved into one of her telling me to leave her alone and me not being able to do that.

And then overnight it seems Marti was interested in boys other than her brothers. I was still at the "kissing girls is yucky" stage and just couldn't grasp her fascination with guys that I thought were universally wimpy. But this relationship of ours which had deteriorated to "stay out of my face" status, was about to turn a corner that would present a windfall of sorts for me: Marti was ready to approach Mom and  Dad about going out on a date with a boy.

I can remember Marti's emotional high when she asked for and was granted permission to date.  I have fonder memories of the dive her spirits took when she was told I had to go along on the date.  Quite honestly, at first I wasn't thrilled.  But then I realized I would have more opportunities to go to town and see movies. An added bonus was Marti was suddenly very, very nice to me. I think she realized I could jam up the works by telling Mom and Dad I didn't want to go.  At any rate, when the first date finally arrived, I think I was excited about it. 

Los Banos, Calfornia only had one movie theater, The Crest, and it was about the only thing couples could do on dates. Or so I thought. After a very short while of dating, a routine was established:  Marti and her date would drop me at The Crest while they went to "find a place to park." Without fail she would tell me, "Meet you in the lobby after the show." As this went on I felt that I was walking in tall cotton; life was great. On our post-date drives home, Marti would talk about the movie. For years I didn't realize that she really didn't talk about the movie - she was just getting enough information from me to cover her absence if anyone asked.

Of course we all know how this phase of our lives ended: she found the guy she wanted to spend her life with and I discovered that kissing girls was definitely not yucky. 

In the following years I had opportunities to play big brother to her as the little sister in need.  But life eventually took us in different directions and we didn't have the closeness that was so important to both of us in our early years. The accident of our birth order resulted in a special relationship that, in spite of my love for my other siblings, could never be duplicated.

As her last days approached, I would like to think I was able to repay a very small part of that nurturing she provided me; nurturing that turned out to be so critical to me becoming the person I am today.

You often hear people say, when talking about the lives they've lived, that they have no regrets.  I am of the belief that a life without regrets is a life not lived. To my last day I will have in my stack of regrets the knowledge that I could have been, should have been closer to my sister; I think she had me in her stack.

♥