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Today, I bring you a giveaway from SouleMama Sponsor, Stubby Pencil Studio. In their words:
"Stubby Pencil Studio offers a unique collection of creative products and arts and crafts for kids. You'll find soy and beeswax crayons, recycled sketchbooks, non-toxic stamps and inks, modeling clay, colored and graphite pencils, stationery, party favors, amazing drawing and art activity books, and more! "
SouleMama: How long have you been in business?
Kate: It's been 5 years since Stubby Pencil Studio opened, in 2006, with a small selection of children's stationery cards for kids to color, the eco-friendly colored pencils, and soy crayons. Those humble beginnings, when we had no inventory system and paypal for checkout - it seems like a lifetime ago. It's been quite an adventure (a whirlwind at times and always a learning experience) but I am so thankful to be working in such a creative business, with our amazing customers that I have gotten to know over the years.
SouleMama: What's your favorite part of your job? The most challenging?
Kate: My favorite part of the job is sourcing new products. It's a never ending treasure hunt for me! "Oh, that's cool! Where is it made? What's the brand? How do I order them?" Over the years, we've sourced hundreds of products, tested them out, and added them to our store. It's so rewarding to bring these goodies to other families. If my kids love it, chances are yours will too! As Sage and Sierra are growing up - they are in 2nd grade now - their interests change and it's a great catalyst for me to continue to add and find new products. The most challenging part of my job is balancing and time management. There is always something to do - take photos for the product features, writing the descriptions, getting all the pieces together to put these great items online - it's a lot of work and sometimes they pile up on me. It's a challenge, of course, working from home and everything that goes along with that, but the flexibility to be available for my family - it's such a blessing.
Kate: Sage and Sierra, my twins, have always been involved in the business. They test all the new products and work with me to take the photos. Since they were very young, they have helped with labels and prepping the packages to ship, but lately, they have been more involved. They sort and fold cards, package mini blank books and Crayon Rocks samples, unpack inventory and count items. Since they are familiar with everything, they can help pull products for our orders (double checked before packing, of course). It is such a great opportunity for them to see the operations of the business and where our products are going. It's a small connection to a great big world and I hope they will continue to think this work is "fun" because I sure do!
For today's giveaway, Stubby Pencil Studio is generously offering the following to THREE winners:
~ a full Holiday Art Tote from Stubby Pencil Studio
(as seen in the last photograph above)
including: christmas sticker book, color 'n kids cards Frosty friends, holiday smencils, soy crayons, colored pencils, crayon rocks, duo pencil sharpener, sniffy gingerbread pen, gingerbread red felt tote.
In addition, Stubby Pencil Studio is offering SouleMama readers 15% off all orders placed between now and December 31, 2011. Use code "MAMASAVE15" at checkout.
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Thank you to Stubby Pencil Studio!
To enter today's giveaway, please leave a comment (one entry per person, please) in today's post. I'll close comments by 8am EST on Sunday, and announce the winner(s), chosen via Random Number Generator, shortly after. Comments closed! The winners are:
Loving that adorable red felt tote...AND the crafty goodness inside of it!
Posted by: Trina-Lea Briggs
Love this! Colin would love all this!
Posted by: heather-whatchabuildin
I love the Stubby Pencil studio!
Posted by: Wendy