Clambone Friendship Bracelets & Giveaway

Happy 4th of July everyone!  I hope everyone has fun plans for today, but before you head out I have an awesome business to tell you about.  Clambone Friendship Bracelets is an Etsy shop owned by recent William and Mary grad, Claire Marie.  In her shop Claire Marie sells a wide variety of friendship bracelets, each of which she hand makes.  At Clambone Friendship Bracelets you can find everything from monogram bracelets to bracelets with charms, and even watches; there is definitely a something for each of your friends!  I asked Claire Marie a few questions about her shop so we could all learn more about it and the beautiful bracelets she sells.  (Stick around for a giveaway you don't want to miss!)  

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1. When did you start your business?

I started selling bracelets when I was ten years old. At the beach one day, my friend and I decided to sell our friendship bracelets and tacked them onto a cork-board. We sold 17 our first day, and our "business" began a summer tradition that lasted until we were in high school! 

2. When did you join Etsy?

I joined Etsy on December 31, 2012. I learned about Etsy through a now-defunct blog, Regretsy, which posted unintentionally hilarious items for sale on Etsy. I was home from college on winter break and spent a few days setting up my shop . My first order came ten days later, and I've been hooked ever since.

3. How did you learn to make friendship bracelets?

My older sister Alexa taught me how. She had this Klutz craft book with instructions and patterns. Making friendship bracelets was a fun beach day craft for us!

4. How did you name your business?

My shop name comes from my nickname. I've been nicknamed Clam since I was little, and I liked the sound of Clambone. I've had more than one person ask if my bracelets were made with clams' bones though!

5. Do you sell anywhere other than Etsy?

I sell primarily through Etsy. It helps me reach people I couldn't have otherwise, and I've had the opportunity to meet customers around the world. I've made bracelets for weddings, corporate clients, even as a party favors for a major fashion label and a celebrity.  I have sold at crafts fairs, too. I've had some fun experiences, but they are also a major time and energy commitment that I can't regularly make.

6. Do you have a favorite bracelet style to make?

My favorite style is a totem pole. It looks like there's little tiki man faces on it! There's a great tutorial on how to make them here.

Claire Marie is giving away 5 bracelets from Clambone Friendship Bracelets, enter to win below!

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Make sure to add me on Snapchat - @kthomp22!

American Style

Shirt: D.I.Y.  |  Shorts: Mavi  |  Shoes: DV by Dolce Vita  |  Bandeau:  Forever 21 (similar)  |  Bracelets: Alex and Ani  |  Earrings: Nordstrom  |  Sunglasses: Free People

On Monday I showed you how to make this American Flag Tank Top and I promised I would show how to style it too!  I chose to do a casual look that is perfect for low key get togethers like barbecues, watching fireworks, and summer concerts.  The shirt that I painted was really low cut in the back so I wore a simple bandeau bra that showed off the back.  I paired this with my favorite pair of cutoffs, a stack of Alex and Ani bracelets, and my new silver sandals.  If you happen to have a cute dog around they go well with this outfit too!  

I hope that everyone has a happy and safe start to their 4th of July weekend!

  

                

Make sure to add me on Snapchat - @kthomp22!

Rompin Around

Romper: Mimi Chica (Old, similar here, and here)  |  Cardigan: c/o Fabulous Finds Boutique  |  Shoes: Vince Camuto  |  Earrings: Betsey Johnson  |  Bracelet: c/o Fabulous Finds Boutique  |  Sunglasses: Free People

I wore this look the other night to grab a bite to eat with my Mom and we stopped by the lake before to snap a few pictures.  The romper I have on is one I've had for a while, and I love it because it goes with everything.  I am obsessed with the sweater I have it paired with.  The sweater is the Patio Cardigan that the sweet girls at Fabulous Finds Boutique were so nice to send over to me with the adorable bracelet that I am also wearing!  It's perfect for cool summer days, and even cooler summer nights that we have been experiencing right now, and pairs well with just about everything in your summer wardrobe.  It's also something you can just grab it on your way out the door to dinner so you don't get chilly in the restaurant!  While I'm enjoying wearing it now I also can't wait to wear in the fall with jeans.  Make sure to head over to the Fabulous Finds website to check out all their adorable pieces, I seriously want everything on there!

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Today is the last day to enter to win my Blogiversary Giveaway!

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Make sure to add me on Snapchat - @kthomp22!

Today I'm linking up with Because Shanna Said So, Ann Elliott and Pampers and Pearls, and The Pleated Poppy.

Travel Tuesday: Acropolis of Athens Part I

Happy July everyone!  I cannot believe it's already July!  Today I have the first set of pictures from the day we went to the Acropolis.  We had a great tour guide that took us from the hotel to the site, so I have some pictures from our walk there as well.  This is such a monumental and historic place that I took a ton of pictures so I will be breaking them up into two different posts, one this week and one next week.

 A church and statue at the church.

Statue from Ancient Athens.

Excavated ruins under the Acropolis Museum.

The Acropolis was one of the most amazing places I have ever been and quite possibly the most overwhelming place I have been in my whole life.  There were thousands of people everywhere, and you have to make this extraordinary climb to the top of the mountain (I don't think it's actually a mountain, but that's what I call it!).  It was very warm, and extremely windy the day we were there, but we had a good time looking around and learning the history.  I still cannot get over how crowded it was, it's just a lot to take in, but well worth it!  You have to push and make sure to guard yourself the whole way up, while taking in all the amazing sites around you.  When you get to the top you almost forget about the thousands of people that are around you because you are in awe of what surrounds you - the structures, the views, the history, it's just remarkable.  If you're in Greece you absolutely have stop at the Acropolis, it is something you will never forget.

In my next post about Greece I have more pictures from this awesome day including those views of the city I'm talking about!

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My Blogiversary Giveaway is ending very soon so don't lose out on the chance to enter to win all these awesome prizes!

Stephan and Co. Stone Necklace  |  BP. Clutch  |  BP. Lace Insert Scarf  |  Kate Spade Earrings

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Make sure to add me on Snapchat - @kthomp22!

Today I'm linking up with A Compass Rose and #TrendingTuesday.