It’s time for a giveaway! I love doing giveaways and I especially love doing them when they feature the work of women I like who make beautiful things. So lucky you guys- today’s is just such a giveaway. Today we’re giving away a crib sheet (you get to pick the one you like best from her shop) from my friend Nicole at Cole & Dainer. (Long story short– comment below with your favorite fabric from her collection to be entered.)
My first introduction to Cole & Dainer was via a burp cloth I got as a gift. Up until then I had been using the burp cloths that look like old timey cloth diapers. Not super classy. The burp cloths from Cole & Dainer were amazing. They were like soft, baby friendly, fashion accessories. They became my “fancy burp cloths” or “church burp cloths.” When I received them, I had no idea that Nicole was the one behind Cole & Dainer, so it has been fun to get to know her as a creative person and see her passion for her work. She describes her business this way: Cole & Dainer brings modern sophistication to baby and home essentials. Our handcrafted items (blankets, crib sheets, burp cloths, headwraps and more!) combine timeless designs with inspiring, high-quality fabrics for a unique product, bringing a touch of luxury to your daily routine.
Um, yes. Yes they do.
When we decided to do a giveaway together, I wanted to try out one of her crib sheets. Crib sheets and I are not friends. This love/hate relationship began in the days of bumper pads and matching crib sets. I had many times I channeled my best Steve Irwin, to try and wrestle those crib sheets onto the bed, but they always seem to be a size too small. And after six kids, all the crib sheets I had were pretty threadbare and just kind of gross. So Nicole created this beauty for me and for my littlest, Teddy:
Yes, it says “Hello, Bear” on it, which is what our little Teddy is often called (obviously). The cuteness just about killed me, especially when I saw how much Teddy loved it. There are forrest animals all over it and each night when we put him to bed he points at the animals and we say goodnight to them while he pets them. We say each animal is one of his siblings, which makes him laugh (“Goodnight, Bethany Deer! Goodnight, Carrie Fox! Goodnight Teddy Bear!”). And THE SHEET GOES SO SMOOTHLY ON THE BED WITH NO WRESTLING. It’s like magic, people. You’re going to love this.
Because I love getting to know the women behind the beautiful work, I wanted to share with you some thoughts from Nicole, especially for any of you who are thinking about turning your hobby into a business:
Since a was a young girl, I’ve loved building and creating! I never wanted to play make-believe with my sister and her barbies, but I loved styling their hair and makeup (markers!), weaving rugs on my loom for their mansion, building barbie furniture with wood scraps found around the farm, or sewing new outfits for them.
Fast-forward a couple of decades and my friends and I were beginning to enter the “mom-zone.” I adore giving and receiving handmade gifts, so sewing practical baby items from beautiful fabrics was a natural step for me. I also wanted to be able to affix some sort of label on my items that would signify the care and attention that I put into making them. I wanted a brand name that held some personal meaning to me and finally decided on Cole & Dainer. When my older brother was only 26, he lost his life in a car accident. On the surface, he and I must have seemed like very different people (he, the good ol’ country farm boy-me, the performer and world traveler). Truth be told, he and I were kindred spirits and no brother could ever be more proud and supportive of his two little sisters than Travis was. So, it is a small way for me to honor him and connect him to my everyday life by choosing the nicknames he had for my sister Danielle and I– Cole & Dainer.
At some point, people began asking me if I could make things for them to give others as gifts. I enjoyed taking on these sporadic custom orders and the money I earned help support my fabric addition and got me my current sewing machine. (Her name is Elizabeth 🙂 )
I decided to grow this into a business about 6 months ago, since moving to a place where the cost of living is much higher than where we came from. Although it seemed like a logical choice, I definitely had my reservations. I LOVED the idea of the creative aspects of starting a business (branding, design, buying, etc. . .), but have never counted myself as being real great with, well, ALL things financial! Also-as a mom of young ones, I would have only small chunks of time do all of the many things involved like building a website, buying new fabrics, designing business cards, researching which poly bags are right for shipping, advertising, staging product photo shoots, and, oh yeah–MAKING the actual product! When this gerbil-wheel I call “my mind” is spinning out of control, that is when my incredibly reasonable husband brings me back to the ground and asks me, “What’s the worst thing that could happen?” After I list off all the terrible worst-case scenarios I can think of, he calmly says, “Well, then you can decide not to do it next year.” Oh yeah. I guess that’s true. So . . .I guess feeling safe to fail is actually what gave me the courage needed to move forward.
Currently, I sell online at coleanddainer.com as well as the occasional local market. I was just accepted to a summer-long saturday market in Minturn, CO, so that will be a bold new step for me! You can also find us on facebook and instagram (@coleanddainer). Our current staple items are: Plush Baby Blankets, Burp Cloths, Crib Sheets, Top-Knot Headwraps and Adult Throw Blankets. I’ve also been working on several new designs for the shop, so look for new items coming soon!
While Cole & Dainer just consists of me, I am not shy about enlisting the help of those around me. My husband quickly became proficient in a graphic design program to help me perfect my business card design and my kids are experts at removing pins in my workroom.
One of my favorite aspects of Cole & Dainer is definitely purchasing new fabric. The colors and prints inspire me and there is just so much potential wrapped up on those bolts! I also have LOVED the autonomy of having something that is mine, outside of motherhood. It is, at once, humbling and empowering to have someone deem your creations worthy of purchasing! Of course, hands down, the best part is that it enables me to continue being with my younger two at home, while contributing to the family financially.
The things that drive me nuts?? Excel spreadsheets, meltdowns when I have a deadline and lines at the post office. 🙂
My work times really vary. Of course nap times and after bedtimes, but I’m also often able to be productive off and on while the kids play around me. My sewing workroom is half business-half playroom. If I have a lot to get done, my husband is great at facilitating some interruption-free work time on Saturdays as well. It definitely IS a tough balance to strike and I really have to make the effort to ensure that I have a time each day where I completely take ‘productivity” of any sort off the table and try to fully engage with my children.
I’m not sure if I’m seasoned enough to give out advice at this point, but I would definitely encourage other women that are interested in notching up a current hobby to just give it a go! Just START. Start somewhere and see how far you can and want to take it. What’s the worst thing that can happen? 😉
So are you interested in a crib sheet (which also works on a toddler bed mattress) from Cole & Dainer? Here’s how to enter our giveaway:
1) Comment on this post with which fabric is your favorite from her crib sheet collection. (Describe it however you want- Cactus! Dots! Leaves on Mint!- If you win, you’ll be connected with Nicole to be sure you’re on the same page about which one you want.)
2) Go to the Cole & Dainer Facebook page and “like” it, then post on it that you were sent by A Musing Maralee. Two ways to enter with a possibility of entering the drawing twice! Tomorrow (4/8/16) at noon (CST) we’ll close the giveaway and put your names in a hat. I’ll email the winner and get you connected so you can arrange shipping and any other details.
I’m excited to hear which fabrics you like and find out who wins! This would be such a great gift for a niece or nephew, friend’s baby, new foster family at your church, for a grandkid, or for your own neglected sixth baby who never gets anything new just for him 🙂 Comment away!
CONGRATS TO BECKY on winning!!
*Heads up: If you’re a crafty lady who wants to collaborate with me to do a giveaway to promote your business, send me an email at the address listed on the contact page and we can chat about details.*
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