{CLOSED} Handmade Feature and Giveaway - Bugaboo Jewelry

Bugaboo Jewelry is about to be your new one-stop shop for all your hand-stamped sterling jewelry needs. Her work is simple but stunning and the perfect accent to any outfit. Her mission statement will surely seal the deal and warm your heart, so read on!

This week's featured seller is more than just a talented artisan; Kristi of Bugaboo Jewelry is also a beautiful person on a mission to fill a hole in the lives of those touched by infant loss and infertility. She's so driven for her cause, in fact, that she's just created the Bundles of Hope Foundation to alleviate the financial burden for couples trying to become parents. Though she's a busy wife and mother of three little 'bugaboos,' she has managed to find time to help fill a void in the lives of others, and we can help her get started by donating to Bundles of Hope using the button at the very end of this post.

I'll be donating a portion of my shop profits this month, and I know that I have a lot of amazing readers who will open their hearts {and PayPal funds, of course!} to help Kristi help others through her foundation. You can keep up with her fundraising efforts via the cute little thermometer on the foundation's site. While you're reading the interview, think it over; I hope you'll decide to part with a dollar or two to brighten somebody's life down the road.

Q. What's the story behind Bugaboo Jewelry?
A. Bugaboo was created to offer some comfort to those who have suffered a loss through stillbirth, miscarriage, or infant death. Often when families experience a pregnancy loss or an early neo-natal death there are very few, if any, mementos to hold on to. Even if they were able to hold their baby or not, have pictures or not, it is still never enough. It is important to many families to have recognition of their baby or babies and Bugaboo jewelry is a tangible way to acknowledge, honor and remember a precious baby gone too soon.

Q. What's your favorite aspect of your art?
A. That my jewelry could possibly make an impact in someone’s life. If just one piece could give someone a little comfort or peace then my job is done.

Q. Least favorite?
A. When I misspell a word or name on my hand stamped items. It’s not like I can delete and retype the word, I have to toss out the entire piece and start over.

Q. Do you have any sage advice for new Etsy sellers?
A. I am a fairly new to Etsy, but I think it’s all about the tagging. It's important because those tags work just like keywords (search terms) which people use to search relevant information. So, if you want to increase your exposure and visibility and make it easier for others to find your items then tagging is definitely something you may want to start doing sooner rather than later. But the tags you use must be relevant to your item or shop and not too generic either, otherwise you may end up on page 200 out of 350.

Q. Tell us a joke.
A. (This is a favorite around my house, we are currently potting training)
Why did Tiger look in the toilet?
He was looking for Pooh!

Q. If you could learn any language, which would it be and why?
A. I took German in all through Jr High and High school but I only learned enough to get by. Since then I have forgotten everything except for how to count and sing “Oh Christmas Tree” in German. Oh and a few beer drinking songs too. My father’s side of the family lives in Germany and they have invited me and my family to visit. But I am too embarrassed to go until I can learn to truly speak the language and comprehend what I am saying and hearing.

Q. Tell us about Bundles of Hope, your new charity.
A. Bundles of Hope Foundation is an organization that will be designed to help couples that are suffering from the emotional and physical absence of a child. The financial expense of infertility procedures or adoption costs causes many married couples to be deprived of the chance of having a child of their own. It is my hope to close that gap by awarding monetary grants to financially burdened married couples facing the cost of fertility or adoption assistance necessary to bring a child into their lives.

I started this organization for two reasons. One was a way to “give back” or “pay it forward”. After the death of my son, my husband and I received so much support that it just felt right to do something in return, and so Bundles of Hope was conceived. I also began this in honor and support of many friends and family that I see struggle with infertility every day. It is a very helpless feeling to know you can’t do anything for them.

Q. What does your typical day look like?
A. Oh my gosh where do I start…I work a full-time job in downtown Denver that begins at 7 am. After putting in 8 hours I rush home to pick up my boys and drop them off at baseball or football practice, then go home and have some quality time with my 3 year old and make dinner (ok maybe not so much making dinner as it is picking up dinner.) Then pick the boys up from practice, head back home and enjoy spending time with them. Put everyone to bed by 9 pm and then sit down and create some jewelry. My jewelry is my “quiet time”. If I am lucky enough to still be up around midnight I get to share a nice glass of wine and conversation with my husband (he works nights) before I head to bed and start all over again.

Q. What three things would you take if you knew you were going to be stranded on a desert island indefinitely?
A. Hmm…lets see…fire, because I hate to be cold. My family because I can’t live without them (I know that sounds passé but it’s true). And my laptop, I can’t get away from it.

Q. What about in the desert?
A. Oh, that's easy - a camel, water, and phone.

Q. Describe yourself in ten words.
A. Involved, loyal, dedicated, passionate, artistic, outspoken, dependable, independent, sassy (as described by my 9 year old son), and affectionate.

Q. Favorite quote?
A. Life is a painting; cover the entire canvas.

Q. If you could only eat two things for the rest of your life, what would make the plate?
A. Sushi and wiener schnitzel.

Q. Aaaand what's your favorite Etsy shop and band?
A. Etsy Shop: Elm Studio
Band: It's a toss up between Black Eyed Peas and Darius Rucker

You can find Bugaboo Jewelry & Kristi at:
Etsy Shop
Bundles of Hope

---

The Giveaway

Kristi is giving away the Mommy Birthstone Necklace to one of my readers! The necklace is hand stamped with up to four names and Swarovski crystal birthstones on a one inch sterling silver disc. If you're not a mommy, then you you can get meaningful words, such as the 'Live Laugh Love' version in the last image on the listing. Kristi is also giving a 15 percent discount from now through a week following the giveaway. Enter the code 'Bundles' in the Message to Seller box at checkout and include the e-mail you'd like your revised invoice sent to. Complete the checkout process, but don't actually pay until you receive your discounted invoice. The giveaway will end at midnight on September 6, and the winner will be announced the following day.

• To enter, you must visit Bugaboo Jewelry and choose a favorite piece. You can also suggest something you'd like to see in the shop. Leave one comment here with your answer. This step is mandatory before earning additional entries. Feel free to heart the shop as well! Make sure that you leave your e-mail address in at least your first entry.

Additional Entries

• Become a follower of Shrimp Salad Circus using the 'subscribe' options on the left sidebar. Leave one comment telling me you did so.
• If you're already a follower, then you're absolutely fabulous, and thank you! Leave two comments telling me such.
• Follow Shrimp Salad Circus on Twitter, and tweet about this giveway for one extra entry Copy and paste the following message: Bugaboo Jewelry is giving away a sterling hand-stamped Mommy Birthstone Necklace with up to 4 names!: http://tinyurl.com/mtkp92 @ShrimpSalad Leave one comment with the URL from the tweet.
• Put a Shrimp Salad Circus button {Vintage Musings} on your blog sidebar for two extra entries. The button is located on our right sidebar. Leave two comments with a link to your blog after adding the button.
• Stumble or Digg this post or favorite us on Technorati for one extra entry each. You can use the 'Share' button immediately below the post signature. Leave one separate comment for each action with your username or a link to the page.
  
• Blog about this giveaway and include a link and a photo of the giveaway item from above for three extra entries. Leave three separate comments with a link to the post.
  
• Purchase something from Bugaboo Jewelry for five extra entries. Leave five separate comments telling me what you bought. You could end up with something great for you and a friend, and with that 15 percent discount - why not?
• Make a donation to help Bundles of Hope attain nonprofit status using the Donate Now button below. For each dollar you donate, you will receive an extra entry. If you donate ten dollars, you can leave ten comments. Please consider this option to help Kristi raise the $350 required for all the paperwork and red tape to become a registered charity. Even just one dollar can make a huge difference, and I know that I have some wonderful readers who'll pull through for this amazing cause!!! {Note: Donations are not yet tax-deductible, as Kristi is currently raising funds to become a designated 501 (c) 3 nonprofit.}