zutano Review and Giveaway

Hey hey, Life around here has been super crazy busy! We have had summer and spring, and then winter and then I think it’s spring again? Zutano makes transitioning from these crazy weathered days really easy for us, by offering super cute, cozy but also light styles we can layer or dress down. One thing I love about zutano is how easy their clothing is to transition and even when our dresses get too small they are still wearable as shirts and can easily paired with leggings and jeans.

Zutano sent us one of their adorable candy striped hats, a Tickled print swing tee, Terry matchstick Jeans, Yoke Skirt and an adorable Bunny plush toy. The Yoke skirt was sent for Finley and is a 3t even though she wears a 5t. This skirt runs fairly large, so when purchasing this adorable item, just a heads up go down a size or two!

Zutano is offering one of my lucky readers a chance to win a $75 Gift card to their shop online. To enter please like Zutano on Facebook, and be sure to follow me here at H is for Hillman. (Up or down in the corner of the blog, depending on your internet server you can choose to follow me via email)

Leave one Comment saying you did both and you are entered! Easy peasy. For an additional entry leave another comment with your favorite Zutano Print.

Giveaway Ends June 5th, Winner annouced June 6th.

Bumpkin {small business highlight}

I’m a Huge fan of Etsy and small businesses. I love the homemade quality and feel and that you can see and feel the effort, time and love put into the products.  I came across a sweet little shop on Etsy called Bumpkin. It’s a little shop that offers hand illustrated prints, party supplies, invites and embroidery patterns.

Catherine Young is the owner and creative mind behind these adorable little illustrations and beautiful products.

Catherine and I chatted a bit and she told me more about her amazing little business.

Can you sum up your business for me, in a nutshell? 
Bumpkin is a whimsical world of hand illustrated Art Prints, Stationery, Party Ranges & even Embroidery Patterns!  They not only delight a child’s imagination, but any adult that still holds onto the magical side of their childhood.

How did you get started?
I have spent my whole life creating hand-made items which progressed at College and University studying Art, Textiles, Photography and Communications. After a move from England to Belgium with my fiancé I started my own business “Bumpkin”.  A name inspired by a nickname my Granny gave me, I always loved being out in the countryside.

Initially I started out designing and hand making Heirloom Quality Teddy Bears for Collectors. These have found homes right across the globe and featured in many publications.  My mind was always full of the adventures these Bears got up to so one day I started to draw them and launched them as Prints & Cards. They were so well received that it gave me the encouragement to expand and I have now created a whole village of characters, many of which are Bunnies that love Tea Parties, just as I did as a child!

Where do you get your ideas from?
I find I get the greatest inspiration for my illustrations from the outdoors, going for walks in the woods, sitting watching the birds in the garden, sparks of ideas appear through my pencil as I start sketching!  To be honest I often have too many ideas and have to tell myself to focus on my current drawings!  Right now I am getting distracted by a fox getting up to all sorts of mischief that could become part of a very exciting project!

I love all these adorable creations, the characters are so sweet and whimsical and are so perfect for any child’s room or adorable childrens birthday party! I know Finley would love to throw a tea party for her 6th birthday and these party supplies would be more than perfect.  You can find more on Catherine’s Blog and Facebook page.

MIA

Yep, I have definitely been MIA these past few weeks, sorry about that. I have been super sick, this morning sickness business has been far from easy on me this time. I have been struggling with nausea and anxiety and switching meds for nausea. I have been having some pretty nasty side effects from said nausea meds as well. So I have been out of commission and trying to keep it all together for these kiddos. I do have a great review and giveaway coming up as well as a wonderful small business highlight. So stay tuned for both of those this week, hopefully…. until then I will be in bed, kind of.