This week's featured team squared away shop is Operation Military Sweethearts!

Check out Operation Military Sweethearts at http://www.etsy.com/shop/OMSweethearts

What exactly do you sell in your shop? I sell semi-customizable hair flowers and hair bows. My general theme is Military and Patriotism but I can do custom orders of any theme and any color that I may not currently have in stock.

What inspires you?

My love for my country and our military. I've always been a VERY patriotic person. My husband is a Marine who suffers from PTSD; so my ultimate goal is to make enough revenue that I can make large donations to military based organizations (IE: Semper Fi Fund, Wounded Warriors Project etc)

What is your favorite thing to create? I love creating anything. I drew to hair accessories because I've always loved wearing big bows and flowers in my hair.

Tell us a little about you? I am 26 years old. My husband and I have been married for 5 months. So currently I'm working full time and going to school (1 year to go until I have my BA woo hoo) and learning how to be a wife! I was born and raised in southern California, and as previously mentioned, I am an extremely patriotic person; I've been that way since I was a kid!

How did your shop start? I've always been crafty and creative and I came to a point where I wanted to find something fun to create that could bring in funds to make donations with. It all just kinda fell into place from there.

When you aren't crafting what do you enjoy doing? Spending time with my husband and our 5 dogs!

Where else can we find your shop online? I am also on facaebook (facebook.com/operationmilitarysweethearts) and I'm working on a website ..but that's a huge work in progress at this time.

How do you advertise? Mostly through etsy teams. I try to advertise on facebook and through friends but the advertisement aspect of this shop has been the biggest struggle so far.

What surprises people about you? That I am actually a HUGE goofball. People tend to assume I'm going to be mean when they meet me, or have an attitude. But as a whole, I'm really nice and passionate about the things in my life. I just like to have fun and laugh! I love helping people and really want to make a difference.

Featured this week is Maryellen from Silver Star Studios!

SilverStarStudios is filled with modern silver and gemstone jewelry. I have pieces that can be worn everyday and and that are special enough to wear out at night for a special occasion.

I am inspired by nature and the beauty in each stone bead or gemstone I find. From smooth shiny silver to faceted quartz to natural pearls, I love it all!

My favorite thing to create is a piece of jewelry that can bring happiness to someone and make them feel great when they put it on. I love to hear from my customers about where they are going to wear the piece they bought.

I am a busy wife and mother of 3 wonderful children ages 11,15 and 18 and an awesome dog we rescued from a shelter. I have spend 23 years of my life married to a now retired Army Officer. I have traveled through and lived in many parts of the US and Europe and wouldn't change that for the world! I have always loved crafting especially scrapbooking and now jewelry making.

I started making jewelry when my daughter and I started making bracelets from a jewelry kit I bought her for Christmas. I became addicted to the process and a few years later I decided to open and Etsy shop!

When I am not managing my shop I am usually involved in family activities. My three children keep me extremely busy from running from the hockey rink to the gym for gymnastics. I love to garden I also recently got a real estate license.

Featured this weeks is Lulu's Little Shop!

What exactly do you sell in your shop?

I sell crochet items! I can make about anything, but I specialize in photography props and baby items!

What inspires you?

I feel inspired by yarn and colors just brimming in my head all day! I look for special things that can be created. I love to wander around the yarn stores or onto specialty yarn shops and find inspiration from colors and texture to make really special hats!

What is your favorite thing to create?

My favorite thing to create are hand spun yarn hats! I love the feel of soft merino yarn and there is nothing to compare it is soo soft and squishy!

Tell us a little about you?

I am 23 years old and have been married to the love of my life for 4 years! He is a Marine and on recruiting duty so he has a very busy schedule and I have been spending a lot more time on my shop! It is truly a joy for me! We have 2 furbabies and they are seriously our children!

How did your shop start?

My shop started more as a little thing to do and try out my new hobby. i saw people making all these awesome things and I thought I can definitely do that!

When you aren't crafting what do you enjoy doing?

Besides crafting, I love to read, shop, walk my dogs, hand out with our horse, and help my family at the races.

Where else can we find your shop online?

I am on facebook www.facebook.com/pages/Lulus-Little-Shop/166514940039624 and on etsy of course. My shop email is lulus_little_shop@yahoo.com.

How do you advertise?

I advertise a lot through facebook. I lean towards sites that do shout outs and participate in auctions and giveaways on pages to spread the word about my page.

What surprises people about you?

I think that I got married so young :) I have always been told I have an old soul, maybe that's why. But I feel like we were meant to be together and when I met him i just knew! Cheesy, but so true!

Thank you so much for picking my treasury! It is so fun to be featured and participate on Squared Away!

This weeks featured shop/artist is Operation Care!

I sell things that help people tell their loved ones just how loved they are. A lot of my items are designed specifically for military deployments and work well as part of a special care package or a stand alone gift. Most of the things I sell can also be used for non-military purposes too. I'm inspired by some of my loved ones who serve in the military. A lot of the things I'm selling in my shop are things I sent to them during their deployments. It really helped us share our experiences while we were apart and it even helped bring us closer together. 

 My favorite thing to create is anything that I know will make someone smile. Gift items, care package items, party supplies to create a special day for a special person...anything that spreads a little love through the world.

 My shop started after I finished school and realized the job market sucks. I was broke and BORED! I stumbled across Etsy and realized I could use my knowledge and personal and professional experiences - I studied the military in school (focusing on the social aspects of deployment) and I've worked providing support to military families experiencing deployment - to start a shop. 

 When I'm not crafting I love baking, reading, being outside, trying new things, making sure my loved ones know just how much they mean to me and experiencing the world.

'365 Days a Year' by OperationCare

Holiday items perfect for sharing in care packages all year longBecause every day should be celebrated with loved ones near or far

60 Pink and White H... SimplyPanoply $2.25	Favor tag - Gift ta... LouTinenEvents $4.95	LOVE Block Letter A... imsimplyme $3.00	Greeting Card, Note... ThePupEmporium $3.00
Funny Hello Card - ... PattieJansen $4.00	Easter Card Chicks ... maddesign $3.50	Decorated Cookies -... katieduran $11.00	Easter Card with Ea... TerrysCards $2.75
Halloween Card, A2,... ThePupEmporium $3.00	HALLOWEEN PUMPKIN -... GrampsWoodShop $16.95	Halloween Treat Bag... TerrysCards $10.50	4x6 Hand Painted Ha... CreativeCrafts... $11.00
Red & Green Christm... WrappedinWreat... $32.00	deployment ornament SimplyDez $10.00	PRINTED, Batch of 2... CustomizedPhot... $25.00	Set of 8 Ivory Chri... LovesYouStatio... $19.50

Treasury tool supported by the dog house

'Military Gray' by HHSIX

All shop owners are related to the military as a spouse, parent or veteran.

Cutie Ka-Booties Sz... Crafttastrophe $75.00	Set of 2 Crochet Co... Putkela $10.00	Grey Flower Earring... ThriftyandFabu... $8.00	Medium Messenger Ba... Indulgeonline $40.00
Decorative Fall Pum... NeonLoveDesign... $11.00	Metallic Silver Cli... RibbonsEdge $4.99	Chain Mail Dragonsc... XairianMaille $14.00	Black Widow Glass P... SixAndEight $10.00
Hand Painted Hope S... SimplyLovelyLu... $25.00	Gray Black Polka Do... fabulousfinds $17.50	Pure Zen of Byodo T... bodhikaiimager... $50.00	iPad Cover iPad Sle... CompSleevesNMo... $24.95
Oatmeal, Milk, and ... Logi $5.75	PRINTED, Batch of 2... CustomizedPhot... $25.00	Knit Cowl - Grey - ... YADinc $120.00	Up Close Sea Gull SydneyManuel $20.00

Treasury tool supported by the dog house