Friday's Feature - Debi Coules Romantic Art

Debi Coules has always had a love for painting. A few years ago she started painting old vintage & antique furniture and oils on canvas. Before long she began getting requests for custom work. She tries to evoke a feeling of romance in all that she paints. Debi's work can be found in homes and shops across America, Asia, & Europe. Her work has also been showcased in the magazine, "Romantic Homes".

Her inspiration:
"Oh my gosh….. what has inspired me to do what I am doing today…well many things! My love for anything French, Shabby Chic, Cottage, Roses and the Romantic, certainly has played a key role. Deciding to have a family I would also say was another contributing factor. Wanting to stay home and be a Mom , still paint canvases, furniture and unique one of a kind items, which I just love to do, starting my own website seemed to be the perfect way to do what I love and bring in an income as well. I feel very blessed and am grateful for everyday that I wake up and can create something that will bring someone else joy! I hope you can visit me at my website as the holidays grow near, hopefully you will find that special gift you just can’t pass by! Custom work always welcomed. I hope to see you soon!"

Want It? Click here to visit DebiCoules.com. Gift Closet readers will enjoy a 15% discount!

Pssst.....I offer affordable ad spots on my sidebar. Email me for more info. :) Heatherldt@bellsouth dot net

P.S. Congrats to #5 the prickly pinecone - winner of the Anne O Boutique giveaway!

Friday's Feature

My feature today is Mom-prenuer, Genevieve, with Celebrate2da! I came across her site & loved all her great party ideas! She had a Little Red Riding Hood birthday party for her daughter that was too cute!! Are these little cupcakes not the most original??

Now this is a party table ladies!! ~wink~



The inspiration behind her biz:
"You know that saying... “Do what you love and you’ll never work a day in your life.”? Well, I love CELEBRATING! More to the point, I love making people feel like rockstars! So I guess I’d have to say that my passion for posh parties, blissful bites and crafty creations led me to launch Celebrate TODAY ...the superchick way! Through my biz, I’m able to honor others, make them smile and all while feeding my addiction for all things party!"

Genevieve also makes & sells Kandy Kones, Crepe Streamers, & Birthday Banners over at her etsy shop so perfectly named, "Posh Party Pretties". Love it!!

Gotta have it? Well....Genevieve would like to offer Gift Closet readers a 20% discount to her new etsy shop, Posh Party Pretties by celebrate TODAY! Enter the code “GiftCloset” in the message box as the check out and your discount will be refunded within 24 hours of payment receipt! Yippee!!

Friday's Features!

As you may know by now, a passion of mine is to promote and help other Mom-prenuers and Women Entrepreneurs! That's what my "Friday's Feature" each week is all about! However, I have found so many great women to feature, right now my waiting list for Friday's Features is into June! So, I'm doing a little re-vamping & each week I will feature not one, but at least 2 fabulous companies!

So without further adue, I would like to introduce you to my Friday's Features for today!

Three Pine Design is a site owned by 3 sisters (and friends of mine;) featuring hip accessories for Mom, Baby, & Toddler!

One of my favs is the Hip Party Hats they make! They offer a variety of colors & designs...and they are too cute!

Ashley, Ryan, & Samantha make blankets, bibs, burpees, and party hats.
Here is what inspired these 3 Moms to start Three Pine Design:

"Three Pine Design began in January 2008. We are a group of 3 sisters who were inspired by our children and the desire to create cute, affordable accessories for them. We love the process of selecting new fabrics and creating new patterns. Our goal is to create fun, hip and affordable accessories for both babies and moms."

And Three Pine Design is offering 20% off one item right now by using the code"skirt!" at check out!

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My 2nd feature for the day is Janna with jacjewelry!

Janna's handmade jewelry includes Bridal Sets, Earrings, Necklaces, & Bracelets!
Here is what inspired Janna to start creating jewelry:

"I've always liked unique fashion accessories. In 2006, while on vacation visiting family, I went to a bead store with my aunt, and walked out of there with a big bag of beads… I came home and made my first piece from those beads immediately.

I made a few more pieces after that, but did not get absolutely addicted to jewelry-making until two years ago. After designing and making wedding favors, place cards and thank you cards for my own wedding, I thought it would be a great idea to offer customized bridal accessories to match a wedding theme. I created a website and started selling both “regular” jewelry and my wedding creations! Last March, I opened my Etsy shop (jacjewelry.etsy.com), which has become one of the main venues for selling my work.

Now, I’m absolutely addicted to making jewelry and don’t plan on stopping any time soon!"

Hop on over to jacjewelry and check out her creations!

Click here to shop with more great Women Entrepreneurs on The Gift Closet!

Friday's Feature- Grill Charms

I came across a product and site a couple of months ago called Grill Charms, and thought these were so unique! And when I found out they were created by a Mom-Prenuer & Breast Cancer Survivor...I had to learn more about the creator of these Grill Charms!

Grill Charms™ are similar in concept to the wine charm. These dime-sized solid stainless steel charms are placed in your food BEFORE grilling. The stems are serrated to hold securely while grilling, moving and flipping. Grill Charm™ your food PRIOR to cooking to distinguish spices and flavors, steak temperatures, or to avoid health or allergy issues. When dinner comes off the grill everyone knows which one is theirs!

They have lots of charms to choose from.

"Medium" Charm.........
And a fun more personalized charm...
I contacted the owner, Leslie Haywood, and asked her if I could feature Grill Charms and what inspired her to come up with this creative idea!

"I worked for corporate America until I had our first daughter and left a fantastic company and wonderful career to be a stay-at-home mom. I didn't mean to throw myself head first back into business, but I just couldn't help myself.

While sitting down to eat at a dinner party I was hosting, my husband served me an extra hot Jamaican Jerk piece of chicken instead of a mild one because he had forgotten which pieces were which. After this very memorable and very spicy light bulb moment in April 2006 I have felt what I can only describe as a compulsion to insure every American gets what they want - how they want it - hot off the grill.

I have tried very hard to balance family (passion #1) and business (passion #2). I hope to make our two daughters proud one day, and even though I am making some sacrifices now (trying not to make too terribly many as they are only babies once), I hope that in the future they can look at what I have done and know that their opportunities are limited only by their dreams.

Oh yeah... one last part of "who I am". I am a Survivor. I was diagnosed with breast cancer in June 2006, had a bilateral mastectomy in August of 2006 during the middle of all the start-up stuff involved with launching a company, and now, two reconstructive procedures later, I'm better then ever! The scars never let me forget so I feel I must mention it, but it by no means defines who I am; it's just another facet to the ever complex and changing person that is first and foremost "Mommy"."

Leslie has very kindly offered $5 off your box of Grill Charms! Simply go to Grill Charms, shop away, and upon checkout put the code "grilling" in the coupon code box and you will get $5 off a box of Grill Charms!

Hope you have a wonderful weekend & see you Monday! Looking for current giveaways going on @ The Gift Closet? Please visit the "Current Giveaways" on the top of the Left sidebar!

Friday's Feature - Kiki and Lele & a Winner is Announced!

Before I introduce you to a Leslee and Kacey from Kiki and Lele, I would like to announce the winner of the "The Gift of Christmas" DVD and a Really Woolly "Baby Jesus is Here" Book from DaySpring.com.
The winner is # 42 Joanne Major

Congrats! Please feel free to snag my "I Won @ The Gift Closet" button and wear it proudly on your blog! Thank you to DaySpring for a great gvieaway and to all 118 of you who entered! Don't forget to use your discount code, CLOSET25, when shopping at DaySpring.com for 25% off and FREE shipping for orders over $40!
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When I originally stumbled upon Kiki and Lele they were making Hand-Stamped Jewelry. I love their beautiful creations! And now recently they have added bows clips and buckets too!

I just love their hand made products. Let the pictures speak for themselves!

If you are a regular Gift Closet reader(many hugs and thanks if your are!) you have noticed I always ask what inspired the person I am featuring to start their business. I just love learning about what inspires people! Here is their reply:

"Kiki & Lele is a company created by Kacey Randolph and Leslee Phillips. It is based on the foundation of our mutual love for jewelry, our love and commitment to our families and our commitment to charitable contributions. This is a company that started out with a simple conversation. We are moms, sisters, daughters, friends. We’re just like you. We both have the type of life that we like to describe as “happy chaotic.” We both have toddlers and Kacey has twins as well, need we say more?

We want to create jewelry that inspires you, because when you are inspired you can do amazing things. When you have a fire of inspiration beneath you, it is contagious. We would be honored if one of our pieces gave you that type of energy, or at the very least, just made you feel really good every time you wear it.
This company is our prized possession and we feel we are creating a legacy for our families. We are proud of the pieces we create and extreme care and love go in to everything we do. We research each piece and part and try to come up with innovative designs. We only purchase or design pieces that we would wear ourselves."

And if you want to learn about the charity they support please visit their site by clicking here!

So hop on over and visit Kike and Lele and tell them I said hello! If you make a purchase, and tell them you are a Gift Closet reader, you will get 15% off and free shipping on orders over $100. Enjoy!!!

Check out my new button on the left sidebar! You can quickly see all my current giveaways and click on the ones you want to enter. Thanks to Traci my awesome blog designer for helping me with that! Have a great weekend!