by Melanie Arntsen of SqueakyBug Specialties

Introducing Kimberlyna Stowe
Kim is hosting a giveaway. A beautiful folded rose brooch (pictured to the right) will be awarded to the winner of Kim's giveaway.  To be entered to win, visit Kim's shop (ButterflyKissCrochet) and then come back HERE and leave a comment with your favorite item in her shop.  Please include your email so we can contact you if you are the winner. The winner will be announced on next Wednesday's Featured Artist post.

Introduction
My Grandma Vi made a crochet hat for my daughter right before she passed away in October 2008. She taught me how to crochet at age 10. I had only learned how to make crochet blankets. I was really missing her and having a hard time not having my grammy to talk to. In January it was very cold outside and my daughter pulled out Grandma Vi's hat from the closet and put it on. I had stored it away as a treasure, but my daughter wanted to wear it. God must have put the idea in my head....I thought I wonder if I could make a crochet hat? So I bought a hat book and purchased some patterns online. It looked overwhelming, but my husband told me I could do it. So I tried and the first hat in a round came out better than I thought. So I tried more, bought more colorful yarn and before I could blink I made over 50 hats. I gave some away, but I still had sooooo many, but my husband had an idea. He mentioned trying to sell them online. So I looked and looked. I tried a few websites, but they did not feel like a "good fit". So one day in Feburary of 2009 I stumbled upon Etsy! I fell in love with the website and started to get customers. Since then I just knew this would be a great artistic hobby. I think back about Grandma Vi from time to time, I wish she could be here with me and see what I created. Thanks to a combo of her teaching me and God blessing me with this artistic talent. My Aunt Diane said it best... "Mom (Grandma Vi) would have been so very proud of you and she would have been tickled pink she left you with this legacy to create."

How did you choose your shop name?
My daughter and I love butterflies very much. One day about 3 years ago an Oregon Swollowtail butterfly landed on my daughter's hat and it looked like she was kissing the flower on the hat. The hat happened to look like a crochet hat that I made so I thought it would be a perfect fit. We now raise butterflies so when we release them there happens to be a lot that flutter around and "kiss" us.

What does a typical day look like for you?
 A typical day starts out with worshiping the Lord. I love to sing for my morning Bible study to get the day started off right. I work with my father and mother in a natural health care and sports clinic. What a blessing to be with both of them and use my heart of mercy to help get other's back on their feet. My hours differ, so I come home and crochet and create before my husband leaves for work. We homeschool our daughter (well my husband mostly) so I hope in the future to be able to be a stay at home full time mom and Artist on Etsy. So we do have an interesting schedule. I supply our local Homeschool Group with hats every winter, and thinner open stitch hats in the summer. I also am a Client Advocate for our local Pregnacy Care Center (PCC) so I have openings in my schedule. I am able to help save lives in many way's including witnessing to the mother's in need. I have just started featuring Keepsake booties and baby hats that I give away at the PCC.

If you could be anywhere in the world for one day, where would it be?
If I could go anywhere in the world for one day, I think I would want to be in the Caribbean in one of the hut's that sit over the water. Ahhh to imagine that as paradise, how incredible will Heaven's Paradise be! Too detailed to possibly fathom. :)

What is your favorite Bible verse?
My favorite bible verse will always be John 3:16! I have other verses close to my heart, but this verse says the importance of here today as to what to do and what our future holds. As God makes available the "Free Gift".

What is your favorite Etsy item listing to feature?
Everything I make I use a lot of color or sparkle, so I am not sure what is my most favorite. I am adding a new artist item to my hats and also one seperately...rolled fabric flowers as brooches, fascinators, headbands and necklaces. So since it's new to me that, seems to be my favorite.

URLs where we can find you on the internet?
Blog: http://butterflykisscrochet.blogspot.com/

And the winner of last week's giveaway from Bob Loves Eleanor by way of random.org is Clare from Clare Packages! Congratulations Clare! Please look for the convo I am sending to both of you.

Comments (14)

On January 12, 2011 at 12:53 AM , pfd said...

So nice to get to know you Kim. I can't help but love the red & white knit cap best but to be very honest I think it may be the cute model that swayed me!

Melanie - a great job with this feature. Thanks!

 
On January 12, 2011 at 9:28 AM , watercolors said...

You Grandma VI would certainly be proud of you.
Kim
You have a lovely shop, great items.
I like this one: http://www.etsy.com/listing/65140998/urban-vintage-couture-the-helena-ooak

Love your shop name and why you named it that.

You giveaway is a charm, hope I win it!
Roxanne
roxtob@verizon.net

 
On January 12, 2011 at 9:33 AM , Zuda Gay Pease said...

Wonderful feature, so nice to know more about you Kim! Love your shop and your new rolled flowers are just lovely. My favorite item in your shop is the red pineapple scarf...because I love red and it is very cold today. :)

 
On January 12, 2011 at 9:42 AM , Heather W. said...

Love this hat: Black Licorice and Snowflake White winter Kids botique Cloche Hat with daisy flower!
It reminds me of the old flapper days and that movie "Thoroughly Modern Millie" that I watched with my mother when I was little.
Heather
valenwind@aol.com

 
On January 12, 2011 at 10:23 AM , Sue Runyon said...

Great post! Thanks so much Melanie for putting it together. Well done. Great to meet you Kim! Adorable shop.

 
On January 12, 2011 at 10:28 AM , Lizzi said...

What a great featured artist...so many pretty items!

Thanks Melanie for writing this up too :-)

 
On January 12, 2011 at 10:46 AM , Christie Cottage said...

Wonderful feature!

I love butterfly kisses!

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On January 12, 2011 at 11:02 AM , myeuropeantouch said...

Awwww...they are beautimus , those butterfly's...great to meet and get to know you Kim...
Monika

 
On January 12, 2011 at 1:26 PM , MYSAVIOR said...

So glad to meet you Kim. Your daughter is just gorgeous. I love your shop. Your hats are just beautiful but I loving your new rolled flowers.
http://www.etsy.com/listing/65475960/urban-victorian-rolled-fabric-flower

♥♥♥
Sue

 
On January 12, 2011 at 3:08 PM , Colleen said...

Kim, You have a beautiful story. You are His hand and feet. I LOVE the ballet slipper booties!

Thanks Melanie. Great job!

Blessings,
Colleen

 
On January 12, 2011 at 4:11 PM , Butterfly Kiss Crochet said...

So glad that everyone is having fun! Hope tomake many new friends! The bible studies keep me enthralled, that sooo many people from all over can come together as artists in the name of the Lord! :)

In Christ~
Kimberlyna

 
On January 13, 2011 at 8:29 AM , Sonja said...

Sweet Family Heritage...my favorite item from your shop is the blue victorian rolled flowers head band... http://www.etsy.com/listing/65475960/urban-victorian-rolled-fabric-flower

sonja greene (at) veryverdant (dot) com

 
On January 17, 2011 at 3:07 PM , Julie Riisnaes said...

Lovely to get to know you Kim! I hope your shop does well. Great verse.

Julie

 
On January 20, 2011 at 3:51 PM , Butterfly Kiss Crochet said...

Congradulations to Monika from myeuropeantouch on winning the GIVEWAY! God Bless