I'm a wife, stay-at-home mom, crafter, and blogger living in rural New England. As seen in Martha Stewart Living, Food Network Magazine, and more! | Tutorials, DIY, crafts, parenting tips, recipes, money saving tips, product reviews, local product features, New England living, intentional living, and more! |
As you know I love to share about local, New England-based makers and companies on my blog and today is no different! Bryn from Island Wrapping Co. reached out to me and asked if I’d like to check out her printed North Pole Newspaper wrapping paper and I just couldn’t resist! | This post contains affiliate links and an honest review of product provided by Island Wrapping Co. |
I hate to admit it, but I’m always a procrastinator when it comes to wrapping gifts… I’m always a wait-until-Christmas-Eve wrapper. But this year I’m getting a little jump start with this cute “The North Pole Sun” wrapping paper from Island Wrapping Co, a Massachusetts-based small business on Etsy. These Christmas-themed newspapers are double-sided and contain fun pretend stories, advertisements, a sports section, headlines, birth announcements, etc all Christmas/North Pole themed! These will make wrapping our gifts more fun this year for sure.
If you're looking for some unique and festive wrapping paper this year - or a newspaper for Santa to leave behind ;) - I reccomend checking out Island Wrapping Co. on Etsy.
- I received this item for review from Island Wrapping Co. but all opinions expressed are my own. Please see our full Disclosure Policy for more information -
As you know by now, I love sharing about companies and products we love on the blog and our Instagram - and most especially those made right here in New England. It’s been a little while since I’ve done an interview on the blog in our New England Maker Series, but I’m excited to get back into it with Heather of Mermaids + Madeleines!
Heather Auclair of Mermaids + Madeleines is best known for her coastal-inspired handmade jewelry and fun watercolors. 5% of each purchase is donated to aid in sea life rescue and rehabilitation efforts - I just love a company that gives back!
Tell me a little bit about yourself and your business.
I’m Heather, a native of Maine, currently living life in Massachusetts with my husband and two rescue kitties. I’ve always enjoyed creating art. Whether it’s drawing, painting, crafting, or designing jewelry. I’m happiest when I’m making something,. I was lucky to grow up in a creative family and community by the ocean. I don’t think I realized how special it was until moving away. Mermaids + Madeleines is inspired by the ever-changing color and light of the coast. We’re so lucky in New England to have such a fascinating coastline. From place-to-place, no location is exactly alike in looks or atmosphere. Each spot has its own little charm and I find that totally uplifting. I try to capture this mix of joy and sense of ease in my works.
How did you start Mermaids + Madeleines? Had you been making jewelry for awhile or was this a new leap for you?
Mermaids + Madeleines started at a friend’s kitchen table (Hi Dana). We were both working at our own full-time jobs and not necessarily feeling completely fulfilled by them. What started as a creative/craft night once a week slowly bloomed into our own side businesses. I had always made some kind of jewelry, I think it started with embroidery floss bracelets at recess in grade school, and slowly morphed into beaded things. I kind of ebbed and flowed back into it after I started a program for advertising design at RISD. I took an elective in jewelry design and light metals and fell in love with it all over again. I quickly changed my concentration and began learning some benchwork skills, design, and technical drawing. I was lucky enough to land a job in commercial jewelry before graduating. First, starting out in costume jewelry and working my way over to find jewelry. While it’s great being able to pursue an interest and find a job that will pay you for it, to me, it just doesn’t come with the same creative freedom, or feel as rewarding as doing your own thing.
What does a typical day look like for you?
I try my best to start each day with some kind of movement, even if it’s only for 15-20 minutes, a barre class, a quick yoga, tabata, - something to get my mind and body moving first thing helps me to be more present and engaged the rest of the day. After having way too many nearly all-nighters for someone that is no longer in their 20’s I’ve started to try to be better about balancing work days and using the time I have. Mondays I do the (for me) dreaded stuff - like filling out inventory sheets, entering receipts, and ordering materials if needed. Tuesday and Wednesday, I like to use as creative days to design and fulfill orders, Thursday is usually a catch-up day for anything that can’t wait until the next week and straightening out the usual creative explosion I’ve created Tuesday and Wednesday. I run my little micro-business out of our (still functional) spare bedroom in our apartment so Friday-Sunday I try to keep my artsplosions to a minimum so it’s presentable for guests.
What is your favorite part about owning your own company? And least favorite part?
My very favorite part is when a customer reaches out, tags me in a post, or leaves a sweet review or message that the piece they received was exactly what they had been looking for, either as a gift or a treat for themselves. Being able to bring joy and happiness to someone through something you’ve made is one of the best feelings. In general, so far, I’ve loved owning my own business a little more than I expected to. It challenges me in ways I didn’t expect, and has forced me to learn and begin developing skills in areas I would have naturally been able to avoid, continuing to only work for someone else. Having said that, there are definitely aspects that aren’t my favorite. Logging inventory, dealing with accounting, and staring at spreadsheets isn’t really my cup of tea. If that were someone else’s job it would be way more fun, but I do think there’s a lot of value in gaining understanding about these less enjoyable parts of owning a business.
What has been the most exciting moment for Mermaids + Madeleines since you started?
I don’t know if I can pick just one exciting moment. I feel like there have been several. The first sale on Etsy, first show, first wholesale order. Finally receiving official paperwork in the mail - making things seem a little more real. There really is a moment or something to be excited about every day, even when it’s something small.
What advice do you have for people just starting out?
My advice is something that everyone says, and it’s the hardest advice to take: “Just start.” It’s so intimidating to put yourself out there. You’ll want everything to be perfect before it’s in front of people, and you can live forever in the phase of “it’s almost ready,” if you’re not careful. It’s easy to hide behind “not yet” but it won’t help you or your business grow. Plus, if you launch while you’re still building it gives you space and room to iterate, and alter without being too deeply invested in something that the market may not have interest in.
What is your long-term goal? Where do you see yourself in 5 years?
I would love to continue building the brand and create an independent website, not just relying on Etsy for sales (though I’m very grateful to that platform). I’d also like to branch into more art and accessories and eventually expand into more wholesale as well - working with small boutiques up and down the coast.
Who’s one of your favorite New England Makers?
I have so many favorite makers... all for different reasons, it's hard to pick just one, so I'll have to share the two that helped my business get started. Dana of Dana Kristen Creates was instrumental in the start of my maker journey with our Thursday night hangouts and continues to be an awesome friend and creative! Alana, of A&E Stoneworks was also pivotal in getting me to make that Etsy shop go live! I met her at an event and she encouraged me to just go for it. There have been, and continue to be so many I'm grateful for, including: Mary of On The Road Again, Lynn from Love Lissy Lou, Rachel from Little Lavender Lobster, Christine from Sea Crow Company, and Marie from Pieces of Maine Jewelry, and so many more... I could probably fill your entire blog post with names!
DO YOU OWN A NEW ENGLAND-BASED BUSINESS AND WOULD LIKE TO BE FEATURED IN AN UPCOMING INTERVIEW? OR WOULD YOU BE INTERESTED IN HAVING ME STYLE, REVIEW, AND FEATURE ONE OF YOUR PRODUCTS? Please drop me a note.
Happy Small Business Saturday! Just wanted to hop on here real quick and share just a few of my favorite small businesses and makers, most of which are based right here in New England. Quite a few are having sales today, so please go check them out and support them if you can!
Small Business Saturday Picks
Wiglesworth's Mercantile - Wiglesworth's Mercantile is one of the newest shops in Portsmouth, NH. The owner Anne is committed to only carrying items made right here in New England, and this week she is giving back to local charities with every purchase at her store (I love that so much!).
Mermaids & Madeleines - Heather from Mermaids & Madeleines makes the most beautiful, bright coastal-inspired jewelry around. She's also such a positive, happy soul and a joy to follow on Instagram.
Wolfeboro Candle Company - Carrie from Wolfeboro Candle Company makes wonderful candles, and this season is offering Gift Boxes too (our Hand-Etched Snowflake Ornament is included in the Large Gift Box).
Maine Rope Mats - Maine Rope Mats makes amazing recycled lobster rope mats and products. We personally have two of their mats and love the fun it brings to our doorways.
S.Lynch Knitwear - Samantha isn't actually from New England, but is a New Englander at heart and it shows in her beautifully made knitted items. I just love her chunky knit hats and her craftsmenship is beautiful!
Daytrip Society - Daytrip and Datyrip Jr., both in Kennebunkport Maine, are some of my favorite stores around. They are beautifully currated and have such thoughtful and unqiue gift ideas.
Watts in Maine - Watts in Maine is best known for their Perfect Catch Cuff, but also offers other jewelry and accessory items as well. They also have made donations to help with Shark Research.
Sewcialite - Roula of Sewcialite hustles so hard every day, working fulltime and creating the most amazing coastal-inspired rope creations and jewelry in her spare time.
As you know by now, I love sharing about companies and products we love on the blog and our Instagram - and most especially those made right here in New England. It’s been a little while since I’ve done an interview on the blog in our New England Maker Series, but I’m excited to get back into it with Mary Zambello of ReclaiMEd Maine Co.!
ReclaiMEd Maine Co. (formerly known as ReclaiMEd Sign Co.) started as a sign buisness but has branched out into much more - including apparel, drinkware, and stickers. They are probably best known for their iconic "Pine Tree Coast" design, sales of which help support Natural Resources Council of Maine - I just love a company that gives back!
Tell me a little bit about yourself and your business.
ReclaiMEd Sign Co. started as a way to show love for Maine and its environment. Will and I both grew up in Maine with a love for the outdoors. I have a creative background in design and Will has an extensive background in building and craftsmanship, so we knew there were endless possibilities. In hopes of giving back to the environment, we chose to use all reclaimed wood for our projects. This helps to prevent deforestation, which in turn helps sustain habitats and decrease expended energy needed to extract and process new materials. Less wood ends up in landfills and carbon remains in our projects instead of being released as fossil fuels. There are a lot of sign companies out there, but we pride ourselves in the fact that all of our items are custom designed and handmade. Each wood sign is hand cut with a jigsaw or scroll saw, crafted and painted. Our glassware is custom designed and hand-etched. We choose to source USA-Made items and work with local small businesses when we can, and give back to Maine environmental organizations. These pieces were all incredibly important to us and are what we've built our brand on.
How did you start ReclaiMEd Sign Co.?
Honestly it all started in our backyard in Portland. We liked to have fires during the summer time and occasionally picked up pallets for fire food. Will had this idea that we could cut out the shape of Maine, "If only I had a jigsaw, I could..." So, when his birthday came around, I went out and bought him one. No longer were there any excuses as to why we couldn't make these things. With an abundance of unused pallets in the area, and with my design background, ReclaiMEd Sign Co. was born.
What does a typical day look like for you?
A typical day begins with our actual day jobs. ReclaiMEd Sign Co. is just a side business. I'm the Marketing Coordinator for Sea Bags and Will owns his own property services company, so we generally both work long days. I often wake up early to work on packaging and shipping, and spend my evenings working on online orders or trying to restock items for local stores. Most of ReclaiMEd work happens late nights and on the weekends. Due to the lack of free-time we have, I often have to take items down from our site in order to find a little extra time to work on new ideas. Never enough hours in the day!
What is your favorite part about owning your own company? And least favorite part?
I love that ReclaiMEd gives me a constant creative outlet. There is always room for new designs or ways to perfect your craft. I'm able to create these incredibly personal designs and gifts that I know people are opening up and putting in their homes. Least favorite part is definitely never having enough time. I am full of ideas and am really constrained on the amount of time I have to experiment and work on projects. I'm often conflicted when I have a free moment, whether I should be working on ReclaiMEd or getting out to enjoy the outdoors myself.
What has been the most exciting moment for ReclaiMEd Maine since you started?
The creation of our Pine Tree Coast design has been my absolute favorite. I loved creating the design and being able to translate it to apparel, glassware, and stickers has been so much fun. We're not only able to support another local screen printing company, but now have a complete collection that is giving back to a local Maine environmental organization. The end of last year, we raised $350 dollars and this year we have a goal to raise $1,000 for the Natural Resource Council of Maine. These products embody our love for this state, the outdoors, and our desire to protect the Maine woods and coast. I love being able to give back 10% of all sales with this design to help protect, restore, and conserve Maine’s environment.
What advice do you have for people just starting out?
Build a brand that you love and stay true to it. Stay creative and push the boundaries. Try new things. Love your work but remember that work-life balance is important. This continues to be my biggest struggle! Will has recently taken a step back from ReclaiMEd, realizing that he needed some time back to fish and relax. I still struggle giving myself a break when there's always so much I want to do and accomplish. It's important to take time for yourself and refresh before diving back in to work.
What is your long-term goal? Where do you see yourself in five years?
That's a difficult question for me! I love this company. As I mentioned before, it's tough when I have so many aspirations to grow but am somewhat at capacity with how much I can handle. In 5 years I hope that I have brought in some extra hands in order to be able to expand our wholesale business. We love being in select stores throughout Maine, but often find that we're turning down opportunities just so we can stay on top of our current projects. I'd like to have a little more time to perfect my scroll saw skills and continue to put out more intricate designs.
Who’s one of your favorite New England Makers?
I love La Marée Art and A&E Stoneworks, who are both fellow Maine makers. I have been such a big fan of their beautiful work and they have both shown me so much support over the years!
DO YOU OWN A NEW ENGLAND-BASED BUSINESS AND WOULD LIKE TO BE FEATURED IN AN UPCOMING INTERVIEW? OR WOULD YOU BE INTERESTED IN HAVING ME STYLE, REVIEW, AND FEATURE ONE OF YOUR PRODUCTS? Please drop me a note.
Willow Crowns has probably been my favorite mama-made business I've watched grow over the last few years. I started following Willow Crowns around the same time I launched my own Etsy shop and blog and Megan's hard work and resulting meteoric success has been such an inspiration! Megan was kind enough to answer a few questions for me about how she got started, how she handles the work-mama balance, and where she hopes to take Willow Crowns in the future.
BIRCH LANDING HOME: Tell me a little about yourself and your business.
WILLOW CROWNS (MEGAN): I'm a lifelong New Englander living in Texas with my husband and three year old daughter, trying to keep it all balanced! I love coffee (French press is my new addiction), hair and beauty products, and I honestly never thought I'd be an entrepreneur! Willow Crowns in my second baby and over the past 2.5 years has grown into what I like to think is the premier destination for stylish, timeless hair accessories for ladies of all ages.
Megan, the mama behind Willow Crowns.
BLH: How did you start Willow Crowns? Did you always make headbands and accessories or was this a new leap for you?
WC: When my daughter was ten months old we were newly relocated to Houston and I was struggling to find my groove. Being alone in a new city with a little baby was stressful and I was looking for something to help me decompress and fill my time, something that could me "mine." I was already (occasionally) making her some headbands and thought I'd give opening an Etsy shop a try! I ended up enjoying it so much and found it so fulfilling that I kept trying to grow, improve, and ultimately make it a full-time business.
BLH: What does a typical day look like for you? Do you set aside specific time for work and for family? How do you handle the dreaded nap strike? (okay.. that last question is mostly for me)
WC: There's really no "typical" day around here, but I try to dedicate my mornings as much as possible to Olivia. I'll schedule playdates, etc during that time. During nap time (or "quiet rest time" with the iPad during nap strikes), I handle the bulk of my administrative work, which means replying to e-mails, preparing social media content, and getting orders filled. Late afternoon is ideally earmarked as family time, prepping meals, folding laundry, etc. and I handle the rest (mostly production) after she goes to bed.
I have a part-time production assistant who comes to the studio once a week and she helps keep our inventory stocked, and I'll do the rest while my daughter is at a Mother's Day Out program two days a week. All this keeps my days pretty busy, but I wouldn't have it another way! I love knowing that there's lots to be done and I find it really gratifying to check it all off my list as the day goes on.
BLH: What is your favorite part about owning your own company? And least favorite part?
WC: This is a tough one, and they're kind of the same! The flexibility of being able to work from home and set my own hours is huge. My family is my top priority and being able to adapt to changes in our life/schedule/whatever is going on has really helped me maintain a balance. On the flip side, since I work from home, I'm never off the clock. My mind is always racing with ideas, to-do's, and the studio sometimes calls to me late at night when I know there's work to be done. Finally, I have to add in the personal satisfaction as another favorite. When a collection does well, our customers are happy, and we continue to grow, it feels enormously satisfying to have my name attached to that!
BLH: What has been the most exciting moment for Willow Crowns since you started?
WC: So many to choose from! The most recent one is the one I'd have to award "most exciting moment" to, though! Over the holidays West Elm reached out and asked us to do a pop-up shop in one of their Houston stores. I love West Elm and the idea to work with such an established and respected brand was a huge of highlight of WC's short life.
BLH: What advice do you have for people just starting out?
WC: I usually give two separate pieces of advice, the first of which is photography is critical. If you have a great product, great service, and poor photography, your product just won't move. Investing in a photographer or working a trade with a local photographer can put you at a huge advantage when marketing your product. I've spent the two years working on my own photography skills so that I can combine my work with the photographer's we hire and have social media accounts and a website that always look top notch and the better our products look, the more they sell!
Secondly, hang in there! Growing a business can take time (lots of time sometimes depending on your market) and it's important not to compare yourself to others. Staying focused on your product, your brand, your shop, and working persistently even when times are slow will serve you well. Strike up friendships with other local creatives, be consistent on social media, be true to your aesthetic, and things will come together!
BLH: What is your long-term goal? Where do you see yourself in 5 years?
WC: I'm so excited to watch WC grow over the next few years! A move into retail establishments is very much on my mind for the near future and I'd also like to grow our family in the next five years. Hopefully five years from now I can follow up and have another baby, a few more employees, and lots more ladies wearing Willow Crowns!
