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At The Picket Fence with Vanessa Hunt

Where Ideas for your Home Meet Inspiration for your Heart

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October 7, 2012

Sutton Place Designs~In the Spotlight!



We are so thrilled to be featuring Ann from Sutton Place Designs and the blog
  On Sutton Place today! 


Not only is Ann incredibly creative and talented, she has also become a dear friend to us here at the Fence. She has a passion for her designs and we know you will enjoy learning a little bit more about the Talent Behind the Shop!


Be Grateful Pillow Cover
Fall Thanksgiving Decorative Pillow Cover

 What led to your decision to start your own small business?

I started my blog first and through that was introduced to the world of Etsy. At the same time I was looking for a way to work from home. I needed time to help my parents and after 17 years working full time I was ready to have a more flexible schedule. I knew sewing was the answer and Etsy was the perfect platform. Together they provided the opportunity I needed to be able to open my own online shop. 


Flax Linen Tea Towel

Tea Towel Flax Linen with The Help You is kind You is smart You is important
From where do you draw inspiration for your products?
Many of my products are designed in my head when I’m sewing. I try very hard to come up with original collections that haven’t been done before. Even if I am using a popular fabric, such as a grain sack, I try to make my designs look different from anyone else’s. My best source for inspiration is Pinterest and Etsy itself. When I’m contemplating something new I search Etsy to see what’s out there so I can make sure and put my own spin on things. 

Christmas Stocking from the Linen Flax Collection with Vintage Lace Cuff


Christmas Stocking from The Linen Collection Flax with vintage lace cuff lined 17 in. long







What do you feel has been your greatest accomplishment as a small business owner? 

My greatest accomplishment (so far!) was when I took a giant leap of faith and quit my day job to become a full time Etsy shop owner and blogger. Talk about scary! At the beginning I considered my Etsy shop part-time. I worked both jobs (my day job and my Etsy) for 9 months.  At that point I knew I couldn’t continue with such a busy schedule and had to choose one or the other. Leaving my job was hard but I am 100% sure I made the right choice.

Flax Linen Table Runner with Ruffle
Flax Tan Beige Linen Table Runner 20 x 74 with ruffle

What is one of the challenges you face as a small business owner?
My biggest challenge, hands down, is being in business by myself. I sometimes wish I had a partner who could offer support and advice. Someone to share the successes as well as the failures. Many times I introduce a new collection in my shop and hold my breath that someone out there will like it enough to buy it. I think being on my own tends to make me more conservative about taking chances. It’s much easier to jump off that cliff if you’re holding hands with someone!

Blue Toile Lavender Sachets (Set of 2)
Lavender Sachets Set of 2 Blue Toile



What advice would you give to someone interested in starting their own business?
Do your homework before you open. Have your business plan in place, your marketing strategy mapped out and your brand designed and printed. Decide on a work schedule and try your best to stick to it. Working long days can burn you out much quicker than you think. Save some money. There will be good months and believe me there will be lean months.  I opened my shop on a whim and I’ve been back-pedaling ever since. It’s taken me a full year to feel like I have things under control. The early months would have been less frustrating had I taken the time to plan things out. 

Vintage French Grain Sack Tote Bag

Vintage French Grain Sack Tote Bag Burgundy Red Stripes


We Gather Together Pillow Cover
Fall Thanksgiving Decorative Pillow Cover


Thank you so much Ann for sharing with us your journey as a Small Business owner.
It is an absolute honor to get to show off your talent and hard work!

We hope you will pay Ann a visit at



to see more of her incredible items…and do a little shopping too of course!
Thanks for joining us for this Sponsor Spotlight today at the Fence,

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Shelia says

    October 6, 2012 at 2:09 PM

    Oh, Ann’s work is so beautiful, isn’t it? So nice of you to feature her work! Hope you have a lovely weekend.
    Be a couple of sweeties,
    Shelia 😉

    Reply
  2. Sandy says

    October 6, 2012 at 4:19 PM

    Ann puts her whole heart and soul in decorating her lovely home and at producing beautiful products.
    I love reading her blog and purchasing from her Etsy shop.
    Thanks Heather and Vanessa for introducing Sutton Place Designs to your readers.

    Reply
  3. ℳartina @ Northern Nesting says

    October 6, 2012 at 5:42 PM

    Hey girls, I couldn’t agree with you more! Ann does amazing work! I own quite a few of her pillow covers, I just bought another one from her a few weeks ago and it just came. I love it!

    Reply
  4. Ann from On Sutton Place says

    October 6, 2012 at 7:07 PM

    Well…thanks doesn’t seem like enough but thank you for everything. Your friendship and support, your faith in me and your generosity. I’m not sure where my business or my blog would be if I hadn’t met the two of you. You are simply the best. ~Ann

    Reply
  5. Elizabeth (Blue Clear Sky) says

    October 6, 2012 at 8:11 PM

    Love both Ann’s creations and her blog. Thanks for featuring her, it was lovely seeing the photos and I especially like her tips to starting a new business, something I am trying to do.

    Reply
  6. It's All Connected says

    October 7, 2012 at 2:04 AM

    She does such a lovely job and I’m glad Etsy has been successful for her! ~ Maureen

    Reply
  7. Suzy says

    October 7, 2012 at 3:17 AM

    I am such a fan of Ann – both personally and of her gorgeous creations! Thank you for featuring her. And thank you, Ann, for your genuine answers and great advice.

    Reply
  8. Shirley@Housepitality Designs says

    October 8, 2012 at 12:29 PM

    I just received my pillow form from Ann (We Gather Together)….I must say it is more beautiful that expected!…
    Ann, you are a real talent!!…May you have continued success in all your endeavors..

    Reply
  9. Dawn says

    October 8, 2012 at 2:18 PM

    Love that Be Grateful pillow! Ann’s work is so beautiful.

    Reply
  10. EuroAmerican Home says

    October 8, 2012 at 3:14 PM

    Thanks for showing us Ann’s designs. They are crisp and elegant. I bookmarked her shop for when I move the the US.

    Reply

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“No man is entitled to the blessings of freedom “No man is entitled to the blessings of freedom unless he be vigilant in its preservation.”
General Douglas MacArthur

Grateful today and every day for those who were vigilant to the point of death in the preservation of our freedom and the principles upon which our country was founded. May we honor their sacrifice by being vigilant too. #memorialday
I’ve been on the lookout for small side tables t I’ve been on the lookout for small side tables to pit next to our outdoor couch and when I spotted these plant stands at @walmart from their @betterhomesandgardens line I knew they would be perfect…and they are!! 👏🏻 This is not a sponsored post. I’m just happily sharing this great find and why we should always be open to thinking outside of the box when it comes finding solutions for our decorating dilemmas.

Now we’re ready to head into this beautiful weekend! ☀️
What do you do when you want to use a bunch of boo What do you do when you want to use a bunch of books in your decorating but it can cost $50 or more for just ONE brand new book? Head to the secondhand bookstore of course! I’m so excited about this new look in my family room and this easy, inexpensive decorating tip I’m bringing to you for this #tiptuesday
Today feels like one of those days that is worthy Today feels like one of those days that is worthy of a chef’s kiss. Blue sky with nary a cloud in sight, perfect mid-70’s temps, a gentle breeze blowing through my hair as I walk around my yard to see the status of my flowering plants.

This morning I was running errands and the weight of hard things that are happening in the world, the culture, my own community and even in our circle of friends just felt so heavy.

But, as I was exiting a store, I passed a couple who were in their late 60’s/early 70’s and holding hands as they walked through the parking lot. I happened to glance over just as the husband lifted his wife’s hand up and planted a kiss right on it. It was a moment that reflected such love and tenderness and it was made sweeter by the fact that they weren’t spring chickens. I felt honored that I had been the one to observe and appreciate that moment.

What an incredible thing it is that as humans we are able to hold so many emotions in our souls all at once. To feel sorrow for the pain a friend is enduring, grieve the decline of a culture drifting further from the Lord, ponder how to navigate a challenging school situation, marvel at and enjoy the beauty of creation right outside my door and feel joy at getting to see a tangible example of lasting love while walking through a parking lot.

I truly believe that as we mature in our lives and in our faith, we learn to embrace the tension that comes with the collision of different emotions and recognize that they can all coexist at the same time without one taking something away from another. Simple joys make the hard stuff a bit easier and hard stuff makes us appreciate those simple joys even more.

What’s a simple joy that you are thankful for today?
Oh what an absolutely lovely weekend we had!! Here Oh what an absolutely lovely weekend we had!! Here are some highlights…

*Friday night I joined some wonderful ladies at church for a time of fellowship and yummy desserts. I made a strawberry lemon coffee cake and it was amazing if I do say so myself. ☺️ We are new-ish to this church and have just felt so warmly welcomed and folded in which has been very healing.

*Saturday was filled with getting our outdoor spaces spiffed up and my guys got our new table put together!

*Sitting outside for lunch with a yummy salad and iced tea felt like a little slice of heaven.

*Sunday we went to the iris gardens with my in-laws and then came home for naps and the most mouth watering ribs that my sweet husband had on the smoker all day.

*This glorious weekend ended with some ferocious rounds of UNO-corn (a hilarious version of UNO) and brownies my sweet daughter made for our dessert.

How was your weekend sweet friends? 🌸
I am absolutely and completely a better version of I am absolutely and completely a better version of myself when the sun is shining! Raise your hand if this is true for you too.

And, not only do I feel myself seeming to physically rise up from a slumbered state to greet the sunshine we've been longing for, I find that it seems like my house is rising up too. Every room, every nook and cranny (even though I now see dust bunnies that I missed during my cleaning on the dreary days), every leaf and flower outside...it's all coming to life and breathing fresh hope into my spirit. What a gift it is to be able to enjoy this home in all of the seasons of the year and of our lives. Now, I'm going to head outside and clean our deck and maybe there will be some time leftover for those dust bunnies!
I’m slightly obsessed with these glass dispenser I’m slightly obsessed with these glass dispensers! They come with pre-made labels for SO many different options and would make a great Mother’s Day gift! I love how they add a bit of pizzazz to my kitchen. And they go perfectly with some of my antique accessories like the little dish my mother in law gave me for salt and pepper and the tiny toothpick holder which belonged to my great grandmother. 

If you’d like the link to order them, just leave a comment with the word ‘bottles’ and I’ll send it your way. They’re even on sale right now! 🙌🏻
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Lilac season is so bittersweet because it’s over way too soon but, fortunately, I’ve figured out how to capture the deliciousness of the fragrance by making my own lilac scented room spray. It’s SO simple!

Directions: Fill spray bottle with 50/50 ratio of water to vodka.

Add 12 drops of lilac oil. Give it a shake, spray and if the scent isn’t strong enough, simply add a few more drops of lilac oil.

This sweet little project was first featured in my book Life in Season and is definitely one of my favorites.

Have the lilacs started blooming where you live?
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