Citrus and Cream: Local Highlight: Colette's Lemon Tree Designs {Hand-Drawn Cards, Hand-crafted Jewelry}

Remember when the cards we gave to those we loved were hand-made? Paste and construction paper and over-sized markers helped us wish the sweetest happy birthday or congratulations.

We may not have time to make those cards by hand anymore, but we're so happy others do. Today, we're sharing Colette's Lemon Tree Designs, a collection of hand-drawn cards and hand-crafted jewelry. Of course, Colette has come a long way from stickers and crayons. Her cards are both sweet and witty, lovely and fun. And her jewelry, like her cards, makes us smile.

Tell us about yourself and your family!
I am a wife and mother of two. I am in a band called The Gospel Whiskey Runners, and I make jewelery and hand-drawn greeting cards.

Can you share with us the inspiration behind the name of your shop?
I named my shop Colette's Lemon Tree because I heard my whole life, "When life gives you lemons, you make lemonade." As I grew up, I realized you have to have a tree, the knowledge to grow it, and the belief in yourself and your product to sell it! So, this is what I am doing with my lemon tree: making jewelry and hand-drawn cards. The best part is I love doing it!

Why and how did you get started selling?
I LOVE giving gifts, but right out of college, I had no extra money to buy presents for friends. So I bought a pack of blank white cards and started drawing on them. The next thing I knew I had a nice little pack of cards to bundle up and give to a girlfriend on her birthday. I felt silly handing her these cards but it was better than not giving anything at all! I also have a hard time writing notes inside cards to say how much I love someone, so this is a way for me to say "I love you" without having to have the words to say it.

It wasn't until I moved home, got married, and had two kids back-to-back that I found myself with time and the need to be creative. (Naps and late nights count as "time," right?) Ironically that same friend who received that pack of cards six years before walked with me into Embellish & Restore where I timidly asked the owner if she would like to sell my cards at her shop. To my surprise, she did! From there I became braver and braver to put my heart and work out there. I have now been selling my cards for about a year.

What does your week look like as a shop owner?
I love to be on the go, so when I am sitting, that means I am crafting!

Do you create custom orders?

I love custom orders! It always pushes me to try new things!

What is your inspiration for creativity? My friends, my odd sense of humor, and shopping at Hobby Lobby.

What’s playing on your iPod?
The Gospel Whiskey Runners (*shameless plug for the band I'm in! Look us up on Pandora!)

Something I couldn’t live without is…my Mom.

My top five faves this month are...Fall colors, planning my son's 3rd birthday party, knitted beanies, drinking a glass of wine, wearing comfy pants.

In addition to Etsy, you can find Colette's Lemon Tree Designs at Embellish & Restore and Studio 317 in downtown Visalia.

Contact Colette through Etsy or Facebook, and stay up-to-date with her recent creations by favoriting her Etsy shop and liking her Facebook page. By keeping up with Colette, you can enter a drawing for $20.00 to her shop! (Note that to be eligible, you must favorite her shop, like her page, or both! We want to give Colette lots of love!) Enter the giveaway below!
a Rafflecopter giveaway And just for fun, here's Colette (second from the left) rocking it with the Gospel Whiskey Runners who played at our recent Festival of Hope.