A Wonderful Collaboration

Jay + Renae is a brand new company. We know we have tons to learn and lots to improve upon to deserve your attention and loyalty. And we take that job seriously. We are constantly working to measure up to the standards we've set for ourselves and work to make sure we are on target with our mission to help women and mothers find success in their creative businesses. So we are very happy to announce a brand new aspect of Jay + Renae! Starting this month, we are collaborating with women designers on Etsy - the site that has taken the concept of handmade to a whole new level. Each month we are featuring the work of one to three designers whose philosphopy and work reflect our core values  - original, heartfelt, fun and of course, high quality handmade craftsmanship.

Alana Little (left) with her amazing assistant Risa of Etsy Shop MakePieNotWar Meet our featured designer of the month, Alana Little of Etsy Shop MakePieNotWar. Alana creates a fresh collection of hand forged and hand stamped jewelry that add a wonderful dose of sophisticated whimsy to your day. She specializes in custom work, personalizing anything from dainty rings to bold necklaces that bear your astrological sign. Alana is a busy mom like so many of us, balancing a creative self-made business and a family life with a three year old! We caught up with her for a quick moment to ask her a few questions about taking that proverbial leap of faith and the reason behind MakePieNotWar. Whimsical, modern, and thoroughly handmade by Alana Little of MakePieNotWar What was the toughest thing about giving up the corporate world and going into business for yourself?  The toughest thing for me was not having that steady stream of income! You just have to take that leap of faith and have a good backup plan. But I also come from a long line of self-employed determined individuals, so becoming an entrepreneur was a natural evolution for me.  What motivates you when things get really tough? What motivates me everyday is the idea that Failure is NOT an option.  When I had my baby, Lucy, 3 years ago, that became my mantra. I was determined to work harder and smarter to grow and continue making MPNW a success.  What was the motivation behind naming your company MakePieNotWar?  My best friend and I came up with this name late one night. I love the smile people get when they see something that I've made. I know that crafts won't solve the world's problems, but we can add joy by creating something that makes someone smile! How does it relate to your work/designs? I definitely have a whimsical way about minimalistic jewelry.  I personally have a free spirit as the name suggests and I think it comes through in my company, from our hand stamped tissue paper, a custom carved stamp, to my crazy cat lady ring!                                                                                                             Alana Little Hand forged and hand stamped...personalized just for you by Alana Little of MakePieNotWar There are many reasons why we’re so excited about collaborating with Etsy shop owners like Alana Little. We love introducing new designers and making their work available to you for your own private viewing. We enjoy growing our Collective to include a more diverse body of work. But best of all, we love that it gives us the perfect opportunity to expand our reach and support a greater number of women who share our goals. We’re proud to say that this is what Jay + Renae is all about. We think this keeps us in step with our company mission. We hope you agree.  Like Us! JayAndRenae.com Contact Us Pinterest Look out for our next post detailing our first ever giveaway! It's our way of kicking off our collaboration with Etsy Shop MakePieNotWar. Hope you win!