Dip Your Toes Into Something New

It's a no go

2011-03-01T18:26:00.005-05:00

So, yesterday I went to the hospital for the first day of my Thyroid Uptake and Scan test. On the first day they give you a pill that contains a small amount of radiation..basically equal to the amount your cell phone emits. Then, 4 hours later, I come back to the hospital and they use a machine to take a picture of your thyroid and then also of your knee.

The next day, being today for me, I was supposed to go back to the hospital receive a shot of some radioactive tracer, and then you basically lay on your back on a table with your head tilted back and they take an active xray of your thyroid - its kind of cool actually because you can watch it on the tv screen.
BUT here's the problem with how today went - The machine is OUT - OF - ORDER! and that sucks!

SO - Next week, we get to start all over again.

Being sick is aweful

2011-02-20T16:23:00.003-05:00

I hate being sick. I have such a bad cold right now. There are tissues everywhere - I think I've gone through a whole box! Halls and Shower Soother wrappers littering my trash cans and Dayquil every 4 hours.

I've always been, as my mom says, her "Sick Kid" :

Hospitalized for dehydration when I young.

I got Lyme Disease when I was only 2, and after many years of extreme joint pain and a millions different medications - one finally worked to send it into remission.

Appendicitis when I was 12.

Got Mono in college.

In 2009, I was diagnosed with hyperthyroidism and Graves Disease - which is an auto-immune disease. I was on antithyroid medicine for about a year and a half and now the doctor is recommending Radioactive iodine therapy. I've chosen to do this because it is a safer option then continuing the medicine I'm on now. This option means being on medicine for the rest of my life (and if you're wondering- yes, I'm only 24). It scares me a little, but I know this is the best option for my long term health.
My Radioactive Iodine therapy is schedule for next week, so I'll update you on my progress and maybe even the procedures process later.

For now, I just want this cold to go away! Yuck!

Sound the Trumpets!

2011-01-18T14:51:00.003-05:00

Heeelllllllloooooo Readers! Are you still out there?

I know it's been a while, but let's start again. I want to start adding new items to my shop, so let's try to move some items that have been here for a while!

Step 1: Head on over to the DipYourToes Shop and scope out your favorite items
Step 2: Load up your cart with all those favorite goodies
Step 3: When checking out, enter the coupon code: CLEARANCE10 and receive 10% off you entire order!

I know it's pretty crazy, but I need to reclaim some crafting space in order to make new items to list!

Weekly Feature Seller: ArtistiKat

2010-04-17T08:00:00.005-04:00

Of all of the jewelry shops found on Etsy, this one is truly unique!

A Short Interview with ArtistiKat

Tell us a little about yourself and your shop.
I never know what to say when asked to talk about myself. I think I would make a good hermit; just sitting in my little hermit cave all day making art.
Currently, I make hand crafted jewelry from copper and sterling silver. I love doing it, and always am trying to find new things to do. I honestly have not found an art medium I don’t like. Of course I haven’t tried them all . . .yet.

What's your favorite item that you've ever made?
Well, there was the time I painted my entire body with acrylic paint and pressed it onto a canvas. Wanted to see how it would turn out. You REALLY don’t want to see that.
But seriously, my favorite item is always the one I’m working on at the moment. Really- It’s such a joy to do art. Anyone who is fortunate enough to be able to spend ANY time doing something they love will know what I mean.

Can we find your items on any other websites or in any stores?
Not currently. I have done some bazaars around Asheville, and had some of my art in a (now defunct) gallery in Illinois, had a pen and ink illustration featured in a magazine a few years ago, but nothing at the moment. I am entertaining thoughts of opening a website. (Adding this to my list of things to do).

What is your daily Etsy routine?
It would be nice if I had a routine. I squeeze my jewelry making, Etsy listing, blog updating, and other artwork whenever I can squeeze a free moment in my day. It’s not the most efficient way to do things, but that’s what I do at the moment.

Do you have any promotions you'd like to offer readers?
Currently I’m participating in the Saturday Blog shopper Event that “Quilts Galore and More” is organizing. Actually, last week was my first one. Every Saturday participating Blogs offer one item for sale that Saturday only. It’s been fun and I’ve learned a lot.

Name a few of your favorite Etsy shops.
Here are SOME of my favorites – but certainly not all (that would fill up pages and pages). Everyone is so talented that I hate to list only a few for fear of leaving someone out. You can also check out my favorites on Etsy for loads more.
http://www.etsy.com/shop/KayzKreationz has all kinds of creative glass art.
http://www.etsy.com/shop/HautTotes gorgeous totes! Love the oriental styles.
http://www.etsy.com/shop/feltmeupdesigns adorable birds! I would love to be able to do that.
http://www.etsy.com/shop/Scrollworkdesigns a very talented jewelry artist.
http://www.etsy.com/shop/straycatfarm Charming crocheted towels!
What song/book best describes YOU?
I like to listen to Pink Floyd “Dark Side of the Moon” when I’m creating. Does that count?
I had to ask my husband that one and he said “Flight of the Valkyrie” by Wagner. I wonder what he means by that.

Aside from creating items for your shops, what is your favorite pastime? Reading, painting, drawing, gardening, cooking, eating, long walks in our North Carolina Mountains. I enjoy proofreading too ( I know it doesn't exactly match the rest).

When/why did you begin creating jewelry?
I started it on a whim. I seem to start most things that way. I love art- all aspects of it. I was at a craft show one day, saw some pretty jewelry and said “I can do that”. This is a phrase feared by my family. I’m forever adding to my list of things to do (which is probably why I’m so swamped with things to do all the time).

Tell us about your best customer/ favorite experience on Etsy.
All of my customers have been wonderful so far. Everyone is so nice.

Anything else you'd like to add?
I wish I could think of something terribly clever, but nothing comes to mind.

Weekly Feature Seller: KhoKreative

2010-04-10T08:00:00.001-04:00

Check out this week's awesome shop!

A Short Interview with KhoKreative

Tell us a little about yourself and your shop.

KhoKreative is a dual effort of my husband's (Andy Kho) photography and my card making creativity. We have been married for almost 5 years, and make a great team. This shop began as a side hobby, but now that we are expecting our first little one this spring, I hope to grow this shop into some sustainable income. (Living in sunny SoCal has its perks, but can be expen$ive!) Life's circumstances have prevented me from pursuing the career that I set out to do (Social Work), so I've found ways to touch others' lives through other avenues such as KhoKreative.

What's your favorite item that you've ever made?

One of my favorite items would have to be this set of surfboard cards
The photo was taken on our of our best trips to Hawaii and it brings a warm feeling. The cards can be used for any occasion to brighten someone's day. Here's a link to a set in my shop

Can we find your items on any other websites or in any stores?

Not at the moment, but we do have a Facebook page, so check it out and become a fan!
http://www.facebook.com/KhoKreative

What is your daily Etsy routine?

I'm just starting to build a routine, as I recently resigned from my part-time job in preparation for baby. I usually check my convos, look through the custom listings to see if there's any pertinent requests out there, and surf through & post on the community forums throughout the day. At the moment, I'm working on building my inventory with a goal of posting a few new items in the shop each week.

Do you have any promotions you'd like to offer readers?

Readers of this blog feature will receive a BOGO deal on any item in the shop. (2nd item must be of equal or lesser value) Just enter BLOGBOGO in the message to seller at checkout to get the discount. Offer good thru April 23rd - I will be on hiatus starting in May as we are expecting our first little one soon!

Name a few of your favorite Etsy shops.

LambnRobbo: beautiful wedding accessories
Krafty Lady Kreations: adorable crocheted baby booties/high tops
Inspired Adornations: unique jewelry
Painting from the Heart: beautiful hand-painted items

What song/book best describes YOU?

"The Little Engine that Could"

Aside from creating items for your shops, what is your favorite pastime?

I enjoy scrapbooking, baking and just recently picked up crocheting.

When did you begin with photography?

I've always enjoyed capturing life's moments with my little point-n-shoot camera, but Andy picked up his first SLR in the spring of 2004, and hasn't put it down since! It's turned into a great joint hobby for both of us. He captures the images, and I get to go along for the ride.

Tell us about your best customer/ favorite experience on Etsy.

That first sale was exciting, and it's always fun to network with other Etsy sellers. I love how Etsy brings out the creative side of people and I'm alway inspired by other people's stories of success and enjoy seeing what others come up with.

Anything else you'd like to add?

Come on by KhoKreative! We'd love to create something for you! :)

I've opened up an additional shop: theKhoKhoNutGrove.etsy.com Check it out!

Weekly Feature Seller: Fuzzington

2010-04-03T08:00:00.000-04:00

There's no way you've seen items cuter than this on Etsy! Check out these adorable pipe cleaner creatures, and the interview with the creator below!

A Short Interview With Fuzzington

Tell us a little about yourself and your shop.

Fuzzington strives to bring a bit of whimsy into the world and smiles to people's faces. The creatures at Fuzzington can't wait share their sunny personalities with their new families.
I spend a lot of time twisting, bending, and fashioning pipe cleaners into cute realistic looking fuzzy friends using traditional wire-wrapping techniques (no glue). The Fuzzies generally range from 1 to 2 inches in size.

What's your favorite item that you've ever made?

My favorite items are my custom creations of people's pets. Like this golden retriever. People are always surprised by how realistic the doggies look even though they're made of pipe cleaners!

Can we find your items on any other websites or in any stores?

I have a facebook account, twitter, and blog.

What is your daily Etsy routine?

My day job leaves little time to make Fuzzington a full time job. I make it a point to create a new Fuzzy every week to post in my shop. When I receive an order, I pack it up and send it out within two days of payment clearing.

Do you have any promotions you'd like to offer readers?

Right now I have a Clearance section with up to 50% off.

Name a few of your favorite Etsy shops.

I love m0llykate designs. All her sales go toward her charity for autism

Aside from creating items for your shops, what is your favorite pastime?

I would say Letterboxing and gardening.

When/why did you begin creating items with pipe cleaners?

It all started with a trip to Hobby Lobby in Chicago back in early 2008. There was a huge selection of pipe cleaners there, and I bought a few for fun, not really know what to do with them. Then, it all sort of just happened, and I discovered that I had a knack for making really cute critters with them. This blog entry tells the story of how Fuzzington came to be.

Tell us about your best customer/ favorite experience on Etsy.

I made a custom Fuzzy of a dog that had passed away from cancer. My customer gave it as a Valentine's Day gift to her husband. It was very touching, and I love how much it meant to them. It was also my first realistic pipe cleaner creation!

Anything else you'd like to add?

I just want to thank you for the opportunity to be featured. My craft is very unique, and while it fascinates most people, it seems there is a select group of individuals that truly appreciate my skills. I am very thankful for these folks, as they encourage me to push my art to the next level. Thanks for giving me the chance to gain more exposure to my art!!

Weekly Feature Seller: RusticRainbow

2010-03-27T08:00:00.008-04:00

This is one of the cutest shops I've come across on Etsy! Jennifer's Rustic Rainbow has adorable items. Here are some below, but check out the rest in her shop.

Tell us a little about yourself and your shop.

HI! My name is Jennifer. I am 30 years young and I live in central Pennsylvania. I have a wonderfully supportive husband named Randy and we live with our 2 dogs Max and Dazey and our cat,Stinky. All of our animals have been rescued.

Aside from taking care of my family,my next love is my shop! I create a a super cute variety of one of kind,hand crafted felt goods. I have tried a vast amount of different forms of crafting,but working with felt is by far my favorite. It really allows me to fulfill all aspects of my bundled up creativy and offer it to you to enjoy! I really love fabric as well,so this type of craft makes it possible to combine my 3 main artistic pleasures which are, hand sewing in my own unique style,working with fabric and using felt. Some of the items I offer in my shop are hair adornments(clips,sticks,barrettes etc) pendants and necklaces, brooches and wall decor.

What's your favorite item that you've ever made?

Every item that I make in my shop is a favorite! lol I love them each in their own ways,but I do have 2 other items not in my shop that I have on my wall at home One is a hand painted sign in colors of the rainbow and I used twigs to spell out RusticRainbow.
The other item is a Wall hangng that I pieced together and the center piece of it is a teepee scene in the mountains! I LOVE both of them alot.

Can we find your items on any other websites or in any stores?

No not at this time. I LOVE Etsy, I do however sell locally.

What is your daily Etsy routine?

I Wake up and check my shop, then I LOVE to chat! I have met alot of awesome Etsy folks from chatting,many of them are very supportive! I will then decide to make something or take pictures of my items and list. I tweet newly listed items from my shop and I also promote other shop via tweets. I also check out my teams home pages. I am on The Cic Team (Crafting in Color) I am new to it,but I am loving it very much! The people on the team are very supportive and encouraging and great promoters! So that is pretty much what an Etsy day consists of.

Do you have any promotions you'd like to offer readers?

Sure! For having the chance to be a part of this awesome blog I'd like to offer the readers a 15% discount off any item of their choosing. You may convo me your choice and I'll adjust the price for you or I can refund it via paypal after you have paid. Just put "blog sale" in message to seller. This offer is available from today 3/27 - 4/10.

Name a few of your favorite Etsy shops.

I am way to indecisive to choose a favorite! I have to many but I do love supply shops the best!

What song/book best describes YOU?

Born On the Wrong Planet By The String Cheese Incident

Aside from creating items for your shops, what is your favorite pastime?

I also love dabbling in aromatherapy and essential oils, I like to make my own natural cleaners using them and I enjoy simmering them to put me in a special mood.

When/why did you begin crafting?

My mother passed down her creativity on to me long ago! I was just a child. She was always very supportive in all of my areas of crafting!

Tell us about your best customer/ favorite experience on Etsy.

My favorite experience would have to be when I joined Etsy. :) It has been a small adventure for me since doing so!

Anything else you'd like to add?

I would just like to say thank you so much for choosing me to be a part of the blog and thank you to all the readers for taking the time to learn about Me and what I do!

The Story of Bottled Water

2010-03-22T21:55:00.001-04:00

The Story of Bottled Water

Posted using ShareThis

Weekly Feature Seller: theLittleGreenButton

2010-03-20T08:00:00.000-04:00

This week's featured Etsy seller is TheLittleGreenButton. Lisa uses buttons to create and decorate all sorts of amazing items. Please take some time to read the interview below and visit her shop!

A Short Interview with theLittleGreenButton

Tell us a little about yourself and your shop.

I am obsessed with vintage buttons. I love finding a great button and putting it to recycled papers, canvas, and whatever else inspires me to create! I am lucky to have been inspired by my Grandma. She had a never ending craft closet an encouraged my brother and I to craft as kids. She always let us get messy and there was never a time limit. My kids and my backyard continue to inspire me today. I love simple and believe that less is more. Unless we're talking coffee, then more is better.

What's your favorite item that you've ever made?

I guess I would have to say my button trees are some of my favorite items. These were some of my first creations and are responsible for bringing me to Etsy.

Can we find your items on any other websites or in any stores?

I am currently only selling on Etsy, but looking forward to selling at some local handmade shops here in Minneapolis.

What is your daily Etsy routine?

I am in love with and addicted to the Etsy community. I typically wake up in the morning and with coffee in hand, check my emails from Etsy. I love the Storque for informative articles and reports on new shops. I love shopping around and can easily get lost in the shops!

Do you have any promotions you'd like to offer readers?

Hmmm... why not? Mention DipYourToes on your order and enjoy 10% off your order. I'll refund 10% of sale back to your Paypal account!

Name a few of your favorite Etsy shops.

ooooooh... this is hard, there are so many!
www.birdandbloke.etsy.com
www.sunnysideupstudio.etsy.com
www.minusone.etsy.com

What song/book best describes YOU?

hmmm...Roam by the B-52's I love new experiences and love to travel!

Aside from creating items for your shops, what is your favorite pastime?

Creating with my kids, Frankie, 4yrs. and Addison, 6. we love making trains, tunnels, and spy gear out of cardboard boxes, paper towel and toilet paper rolls.

When/why did you begin crafting with buttons?

I actually started with new buttons from the craft store, but once I got ahold of a few vintage buttons, it was a done deal. Vintage buttons have so much more character and life.

Tell us about your best customer/ favorite experience on Etsy.

Oh, this is easy. There's nothing like that first sale on Etsy. I sold a set of greeting cards. The cream vintage button on one of the cards was SO cool! Still looking for more of these!

Anything else you'd like to add?

I am so proud to be a part of the amazing world of indie crafters and artisans! A huge thank you to Kristin with Dip Your Toes for the feature.

Lisa
www.thelittlegreenbutton.etsy.com
http://littlegreenbutton.blogspot.com/

Weekly Feature Seller: JessiCalibor

2010-03-13T08:00:00.002-05:00

Check out JessiCalibor's beautiful work and story below!

Tell us a little about yourself and your shop.
I've known I was going to be an artist ever since I can remember--and it's a passion that has only grown!
I paint to release what’s inside of me—and in that way, each piece is a very personal experience. Every painting I do begins with a vision of what is possible in my mind—I see a moment that needs to be captured, an idea that needs to be realized, a creation of colors and vistas that only need to be made into reality. It is so exciting to me to begin in my mind’s eye, and bring that intangible vision into being so that others can see and enjoy it, as well. In every painting I try to express the deep beauty I have found in this life, whether it be a person, landscape or experience. I have in me a sense of responsibility to show this beauty I see to the world. I work in oils, and my work is characterized by the presence of a human figure, dramatic use of lighting, and a sense of modern romanticism. I take great care to pay attention to detail, to reveal what needs to be brought forth in a scene in order to show my viewer a specific mood or idea in a piece.

As far as my shop, I began it as a way to bring my fine art to more people at a lower price than buying the original oil painting. I sell handmade greeting cards and limited edition prints of my original oils.
What's your favorite item that you've ever made?

Oh, so hard to choose! Each painting or card is special and born of a separate inspiration. However, I really am happy with the way that "Paper Lanterns" and "Fragments of Splendor" turned out. As far as the handmade cards, I like "Elegant Feather Card".
Can we find your items on any other websites or in any stores?

Yes, you can find my original oil paintings and sketches at gallery at Grove in Greenville, SC and at the Eden Boheme in Charleston, SC. On the web, you can view my fine art at www.jessicalibor.com, and dreamingradiance.wordpress.com. And, of course, at www.jessicalibor.etsy.com.
What is your daily Etsy routine?

I check my conversations, sales and do any necessary shipping. After that, I am usually in the studio painting on a new creation!

Do you have any promotions you'd like to offer readers?
Tell me you heard about me from DipYourToes, and I'll wave any shipping fees for your order!
Name a few of your favorite Etsy shops.

I Brake for Bokeh Photography
Ouma Clothing
Katina Pinka

What song/book best describes YOU?
Some books that really resonate with me are the Emily of New Moon series by L.M. Montgomery, Jane Eyre, and believe it or not...children's books! I love reading illustrated fairy tales, my favorite being "Sleeping Beauty", illustrated gloriously by Christian Birmingham. I love the happy endings and how good always wins in the end.
As far as songs, some recent favorites have been "Wunderkind" by Alanis Morrisett, "The Mummer's Dance" by Loreena McKennitt, and "Beloved" by Tenth Avenue North. I can appreciate music of many different kinds--it was hard to narrow down favorites!

Aside from creating items for your shops, what is your favorite pastime? I love going to concerts, going swing and contra (line) dancing, reading good books, and writing.

When did you begin drawing and painting?
Ever since I can remember. I don't remember not being conscious of my love of art.

Tell us about your best customer/ favorite experience on Etsy.
One lady who bought a print wrote me the sweetest note, telling me what she liked specifically about the print, and how she wished me luck in the future. It really meant a lot to me, because that's why I create--to bring these visions to everyone else around me. It's cool to see other people appreciate and see the beauty in them!

Anything else you'd like to add?
To creatives, my advice is to never give up! Continue to follow your passion no matter what. And to everyone reading this blog, I hope seeing my art helps you see more of the beauty in everyday life. Thanks for reading, and don't forget to check out my blog for events

my fan page

or, my official website!

BakedByAsh Shop Poll

2010-03-08T11:54:00.006-05:00

BakedByAsh is considering switching from mostly custom orders to premade (ready to ship) orders. Please take these polls to help her out in her decision. Ashleigh is looking for information on what gauge, color, and style earrings you wear.

THANKS FOR YOUR INPUT!

Spring is almost here

2010-03-04T12:46:00.005-05:00

Check out these new springtime items currently in my shop

More to come!

Weekly Feature Seller: BlueCricket

2010-02-27T08:00:00.005-05:00

Check out BlueCricket's beautiful card shop. There's also a great story about her shop below.

A Short Interview with BlueCricket

Tell us a little about yourself and your shop.

My name is Lindsey. Married to Freddie and we have two amazing girls called Sophie and Lucy Kit. Oh, and two cats-Coco and Frodo. Sometimes wonder who the pets are! I did a BA honours degree in 3D Design, specialising in silversmithing. I have worked in the Jewellery industry for many years. I have always loved drawing, designing, so was delighted when I discovered Etsy, and set up my greetings card shop there.

What's your favorite item that you've ever made?

My favorite is a shocking pink card that I did for someone called Sian, for her birthday. It is a cross stitched birthday cupcake, atop her name written in gold.

Can we find your items on any other websites or in any stores?

I have a shop with Folksy and Shop Handmade. I have also got a blog site on SoopSee, which I have just set up. I do a number of commission cards, and supply to small lovely craft and vintage shop local to me.

What is your daily Etsy routine?

My Etsy day starts in the evening! I work out any designs that I have in my head, and put them to paper. Also, I will add to my general stock levels. As I sell quite a lot out side of Etsy, I have got a number of craft fairs scheduled. Running short would be a disaster! I then have some computer time on Etsy, post a tweet or two, and if I feel inspired to blog, then I will. I do, however require a fair amount of PC help from my eldest daughter, which she gives unstintingly!

Do you have any promotions you'd like to offer readers?

Anyone purchasing 4 or more cards will receive 2 complementary cards, and a pack of 10 gift tags. This will require extra postage, but I’ll pay that!

Name a few of your favorite Etsy shops.

BeadyBirdDotCom
Love From The Sand

What song/book best describes YOU?

I love he song Horse with No Name, I don’t know if it actually describes me, but I have always loved the song.

Aside from creating items for your shops, what is your favorite pastime?

I love to read. Escaping into someone else imagination is complete relaxation for me. I have now passed my love of books onto Sophie.

When/why did you begin creating cards?

After my daughter Sophie’s birth, almost 14 years ago (heavens above), whilst she was sleeping, and when I had a spare moment, I would draw and doodle. I needed a card for a friend’s birthday, so I made one up. Several of her friends saw the card and asked me for special cards for them. I then went onto make Christmas cards at the end of that very same year, and I have never brought another card since!

Tell us about your best customer/ favorite experience on Etsy.

I have not had many sales, but I have a client who has bought twice from me now, and I am very great full.

Anything else you'd like to add?

The craft world that I have found on Etsy and associated places has been a wonderful experience. Great fun, on many levels, has made me laugh, made me think, helped me to learn new things and widened my view of the world. My thanks to Kirstin for letting me visit and babble a while. With Love Lindsey.

February Blog Carnival

2010-02-24T00:18:00.003-05:00

This month's blog carnival question is:" Of all the places in the world, where would you like to go and why?"

Well, there are so many various places around the world I would love to go right now. Since it is still cold here, and now raining with more snow in our weather forecast - I really want to be somewhere warm. I'd love to travel abroad, somewhere exotic even. But I would honestly be content just visiting Hawaii!

Nothing sounds better to me right now then walking on a warm, sunny beach and maybe even learning how to surf one day. I could even wear my new crocheted Hawaiian Leis:

Weekly Feature Seller: EmeraldCityEmporium

2010-02-20T08:00:00.001-05:00

Check out Emerald City Emporium's shop.

A Short Interview with EmeraldCityEmporium

Tell us a little about yourself and your shop.

My name is Rachel, and I love to make beautiful home decor items out of new and recycled materials. My ultimate goal is to promote handmade business, and to be completely earth-friendly, both things I'm working twoard.

What's your favorite item that you've ever made?
My favorite item I've made so far is my Pine Tree wall hook. I love rustic style, and nature, so this totally suits my taste.

Can we find your items on any other websites or in any stores?
Right now my Etsy store is the only place you can buy my items.

What is your daily Etsy routine? My daily Etsy routine is usually something like : Wake up around 6:30, and work out until 7, when I eat breakfast and watch the news. I get dressed and check my analytics, answer e mails and prepare anything that needs to go to the post office. After that I work on a project or two until about 10:15. Between 10:15 and 11:00 I run out to the post office and wherever else I go, until 11:00 when I start my part time job. I work at a preschool 5 hours a day, so when I get home around 4 it's time for a snack and back to working on Etsy projects. I generally take pictures after I get home, when the sun is the strongest in my living room. After that it's posting
new items and making dinner, etsy work tends to blend into relaxing time with my boyfriend and cats. (Not that I mind!)
Do you have any promotions you'd like to offer readers?

Right now I don't have any promotions going on, except my ongoing paid sales tax for VA residents.
Name a few of your favorite Etsy shops.

I have so many favorites, it's hard to pick!

HB Fabrics is a great store.
My boyfriend bought me an awesome skirt from this store
Beautiful jewlery
What song/book best describes YOU?

What a great question! I love both reading and music, but I have to go with music. "Jezebel" by Iron and Wine is by far one of my favorite songs ever. I like to think it suits me because it is simple and sweet, and beautiful. It is so soothing.
Aside from creating items for your shops, what is your favorite pastime?

One thing I love to do, outside of creating for Etsy, is playing music. I got into music in 6th grade, when I played clarinet in band class. After that it snowballed into bass guitar, guitar, a little piano and a more obscure instrument called a fife.

When/why did you begin crafting?
I think I've always been into making things, I loved to doodle and play with clay and play-doh when I was little. It wasn't really a conscious choice, I've just always known that making things and expressing myself that way makes me really happy.

Tell us about your best customer/ favorite experience on Etsy.
My favorite experience on Etsy was having a customer of mine come back 3 times, and requesting a custom order. He was buying things for his wife, and it was SO flattering to know that he thought my work was beautiful enough to give as a gift, especially to someone he cares so much about. It's also great to have a repeat customer.

Anything else you'd like to add?
Thanks for reading my interview!

Weekly Feature Seller: DashingEtc

2010-02-13T08:00:00.001-05:00

Check out Becci's shop DashingEtc. I think her items really are rather dashing, if I do say so myself! Becci also has a really lovely blog.

A Short Interview With DashingEtc

Tell us a little about yourself and your shop.

Hello! My name is Becci (like Becky, but spelled funny). I'm Midwest born and raised and currently live in St. Louis (the Lou!) with my husband Nate as well as our dog and cat. I've always been "crafty" and loved to make things, but the first time I made a flower out of felt, it was like I found my craft soul mate. I fell in love with felt...the texture, look, and dimension of it. After that, it was kind of a chain reaction. I had to find ways to use the flowers I created, so I started making wall hangings and magnets. Then, I had so many wall hangings and magnets that I had to open an Etsy shop just to find homes for some of them as they started taking over our house.

What's your favorite item that you've ever made?

I really enjoy making the big petal-stacked flowers like this one:
White Felt Flower Wall Art

Something about the fluffiness of the flower makes it my favorite.

Can we find your items on any other websites or in any stores?

I'm only on Etsy at this point.

What is your daily Etsy routine?

Well, I've only been selling on Etsy for a couple of months, so I haven't really established a set routine yet. I generally check it first thing in the morning to answer convos and see if anything sold. I then check it pretty frequently throughout the day and try to renew items at least every couple of days. Unfortunately, I also have a "day job", but I work from home so it allows me the flexibility of keeping a close eye on my shop during the day and going to the post office when I need to get something shipped out. Most of the creating and picture taking gets done on the weekend as that is when I have the most time.

Name a few of your favorite Etsy shops.

My favorites are always changing, but here are a few that I really love:
DazeyChic
TheFuzzyMonkey
AshleyG

What song/book best describes YOU?

"Brown Eyed Girl" is the only one I can think of, but my favorite song is "Imagine" by John Lennon.

Aside from creating items for your shops, what is your favorite pastime?

Reading is definitely my favorite pastime. I will read just about anything I can get my hands on and spent most of my childhood with my nose buried in a book. Baking would be a close second though.

When/why did you begin creating ?

I have been creating things as long as I can remember. I love the challenge of making something instead of buying it, and I think handmade things are more meaningful and unique.

Tell us about your best customer/ favorite experience on Etsy.

Being on the front page is pretty cool! I also love it when people convo me just to tell me they like my shop or a certain item. It blows me away that someone would be nice enough to take the time to do that. The Etsy community is full of supportive, genuinely nice people. Etsy as a whole has been an amazing experience so far.

The day after

2010-02-11T21:38:00.005-05:00

So, the storm was cold and the snow was wet and heavy! The lights were flickering on and off, and it wasn't even that windy out, a few gusts here and there, but really nothing major. A few transformers blew up in town which we could see lighting up the sky from our driveway as we shoveled the snow. And the fire whistle blew at least once per hour. Keep Safe. Keep dry.

Check out these during and after shots of our birch tree. The split branch of the base, eventually sank all the way to the ground last night as you can see in the second (dark) picture.

Here is one I also took late last night of our front porch.

One Cold Week

2010-02-10T17:16:00.010-05:00

Well, This weekend we had a total of about 16 inches of snow. Today, we have - so far - had about another 8 inches. So, since one snowfall didn't really have a chance to melt before the next, we are up to our knees in it - well, my knees anyway!

Here are some picture from our yard that I just took this afternoon. And it is still coming down - HARD! - Which you will be able to see in some pictures

At least someone was still having fun today. While I caught up on some crocheting for my crochet group's St. Patrick's day Exchange, Mabelle had fun making a tunnel out of a cereal box.

Weekly Feature Seller: Kaitlinvroom

2010-02-07T10:00:00.005-05:00

Check out these great items from kaitlinvroom. She knits, she upcycles, she blogs.

A Short Interview With Ether Atlas

Tell us a little about yourself and your shop.

I'm Kaitlin and I really love a certain simple and cozy style of living. I love the little quiet beautiful moments while drinking tea or reading a book, and I wanted to set up a shop that compliments those moments.

What's your favorite item that you've ever made?

I think my favorite item is something I made for myself. It's a dark blue and brown cowl scarf. I wear it all of the time.

Can we find your items on any other websites or in any stores?

Unfortunately I'm only on Etsy and in person.

What is your daily Etsy routine?

My routine is pretty erratic. Being a full time student at Florida State University, my time for Etsy activities is scattered. I generally knit during any free time I have during the day, and hours into the night, including down time at my movie theater job. I spend about an hour a day, usually in between classes, trying to improve and promote my shop. Weekends are when I get a lot of knitting and sewing done.

Do you have any promotions you'd like to offer readers?

Right now I'm offering free shipping with the purchase of two or more items. And as always, nothing in my shop is more than $10!

Name a few of your favorite Etsy shops.

I have so many!

One of my all time favorites is the shop Black Pine, they sell beautiful and simple handmade journals.

A recently discovered favorite is DashingEtc, a shop of masterful and sophisticated felt flowers.

I also really love Chakra Pennywhistle.

What song/book best describes YOU?

Probably the song White Winter Hymnal by Fleet Foxes. The atmosphere that the melody, lyrics, harmonies, and resonance of that song creates really speaks to my idea of what is beautiful.

Aside from creating items for your shops, what is your favorite pastime?

I am obsessed with alternative cinema, indie and foreign films are constantly on my TV while I'm knitting. I also am currently learning to skate on quads for roller derby!

When did you begin knitting?

A few years ago, I was looking for something new to learn, so I found some knitting tutorials online, and bought a pair of chunky needles and some cream colored yarn. It was a very rewarding decision!

Tell us about your best customer/ favorite experience on Etsy.

My first sale was pretty great. I had only had my shop up a few weeks, and it was so exciting to see that someone hundreds of miles away from me wanted to have something that I'd made!

Anything else you'd like to add?

Don't forget to appreciate beauty in the simple moments in life!

Gettin' Cozy

2010-02-05T15:33:00.003-05:00

Isn't it funny how a picture can say a million words? I found this one on google, and I can't tell you how much I was this was me right now! A big mug of hot chocolate, warming my toes near the roaring fireplace while I work on my crocheting. I can almost smell the sweet smell of the fire blowing through the house.

Well, that was a great dream! Now back to my reality - I don't have a fireplace so we can take that out of the picture..I do have a cat curled up around my toes right now as I sit on the couch, so no worries, my toes are still warm! I did make brownies today, so there is a very sweet aroma throughout the house. And I am working on some crocheting.

If you've been to my shop recently, you've by now noticed that I tried out some Amigurumi and it came out wonderful! Those little creatures are adorable for sure. I've decided to also add some crocheted afghans and even some baby blankets to my shop, so keep a heads up for those if you are interested.

On that note, I have another niece/nephew on the way. Still a long ways away though. Actually, the due date is right around my birthday in September!

Well, that's all for now. As I sit here awaiting the beginning of the snow - we're supposed to have 8-12 inches today - I hope your days are warm and full of life!

Sunshine Award

2010-02-01T16:36:00.010-05:00

I've been awarded the Sunshine Award by Eco-friendly Freckles! I haven't had a chance to pick my blog nominees yet, but it will happen this week I promise! In the meantime, please check out our Featured Seller of the Week, the EtsyBlogger of the Month, and of course - Eco-friendly Freckles' Blog!!

So the rules for accepting the Sunshine award are

~ Put the logo on your blog or within your post
~ Pass the award onto 12 bloggers ~
~ Link the nominees within your post ~
~ Let the nominees know they have received this award by commenting on their blog.
~ Share the love and link to the person from whom you received this award.

So now it's my turn to pass it on.... here are some of the blogs that bring sunshine to my life, in random order they are:

1- Sweets & Hearts
2- Heaven Baked Sweets
3- Oh, I Love That
4- Spearmint Baby
5- Little Miss Heirlooms
6- Stroll Through Storyland
7- It's All in the Blog
8- Cabin + Cub
9- Cupcake A Day
10- Bead Up
11- Surprise Delight Joy
12- Life Is Good

Enjoy! And don't forget to pass it along!!

EtsyBlogger of the Month: NicoDesigns

2010-01-31T21:35:00.005-05:00

January's EstyBlogger of the Month is NicoDesigns. Erika has been an EtsyBlogger since June of 2008. Here is a little info from Erika herself:

After years of being a Behavior Specialist and Special Education Teacher, I sew for sanity. My two babies (ages 3 and 2) make everything in the past seem so ordinary and what lies in front of us as amazing. And chaotic.

As for the name of my shop? My Dad is my hero. And he calls me "NICO" for my middle name, Nicole.

At Nico Designs we create each item with design, style and functionality in mind. We strive to create products that are eco friendly by utilizing a combination of new, repurposed, recycled or upcycled materials. As we strive to understand our role as stewards of our planet we will adapt our manufacturing to be as lean as possible. This means we use our scraps/remnants in other projects or donate them to keep them from a landfill.

In the Fall of 2008, a lifelong neighbor and his wife lost their 7 year old daughter to cancer. I have struggled with the idea that I wanted to do something to help at such a horrible event.
I found out that cancer is the leading cause of death by disease among children under age 15. Out of the nearly 5 billion dollars allocated to research by the National Cancer Institute only 4% is allocated to children's cancer.

And that makes me mad. So I am doing what I can with my shop. Proceeds from the sale of select items will go to the Ronald McDonald House in Temple. And 10% of sales from the other items will go to MD Anderson Cancer Hospital in Houston.

Weekly Feature Seller: Book End Designs

2010-01-30T08:00:00.000-05:00

Some of the most unique purse you'll ever see - made from books!!

A Short Interview with Steve from BookEndDesigns

Tell us a little about yourself and your shop.

My name is Steve, married (to the purse model you'll see around the shop) with a baby girl on the way, I was born in Gloucester MA, I am a graduate of the Savannah College of Art and Design (BFA sequential art) first and foremost I consider myself a wildlife artist, I work in crow quill and ink drawing birds mostly (shatteredinks.etsy.com), but I am also a stone mason (not the "National Treasure"/"lost symbol" secretly rule the world kind, but the turn those rocks into a wall kind), and a substitute teacher (working towards becoming an art teacher) and the shop is just another outlet for me have fun with my art.

Do you have any sales or promotions you'd like to advertise?

I'd be happy to offer your readers a 10% discount for the week following your blog post, just mention seeing me here in the buyer notes

Name a few of your favorite Etsy shops.

http://www.etsy.com/shop/EJPcreations
http://www.etsy.com/shop/YAVAglass
http://www.etsy.com/shop/bottlediggers

What song/book best describes YOU?

I'm going to go with the song mutiny! by Set Your Goals, for them its about band contracts conflicting with just making music, but as an artist I can get behind the sentiment fully
What's your favorite item that you've ever made?

well, since I'm still fairly new to making the purses, I feel that each one gets better than the one before it, but if I had to pick a favorite so far I'd pick the Medieval Art and Architecture purse made from a text book so its extra large and definitely going to make a statement, I wasn't sure when I started if something that big would look good, but it worked out and looks great (my wife will be sad to see that one go) Can we find your items on any other websites or in any stores?

Etsy is it for right now, unless you happen to run into me or my wife on the street
What is your daily Etsy routine?

I check the shop first thing every morning, check for sales or convos, I try very hard to get shipments out as fast as possible, so if there is a sale its posted same day or next day, so that keeps me checking the shop whenever I have a minute. As far as making the purses goes, that's more of a weekend routine, I take a handful of books I plan on using and head to the fabric stores to match up a few with everything from fabric to buttons to ribbon to handles then set out the process of putting them together, and start the week over again with some new items to post.
Aside from creating items for your shops, what is your favorite pastime?

aside from my art work of all sorts which I do consider a favorite pastime and never work, I have always been an ice hockey player, so give me a sheet of ice or a Boston Bruins game and I'll make the best of it

When did you begin making bags from books? How unique!

It has been less than a year at this point, I started sometime around April of 2009, I made one for my wife to bring to a friends wedding and expected that to be that, but everyone there wanted one and every time she took it out it never failed that someone always wanted to know where it came from, so I started making more locally and moved onto etsy by the summer to try to reach a wider audience.
Tell us about your best customer/ favorite experience on Etsy.

My first sale comes to mind, breaking the ice was a nice feeling, and even though I still only have a few sales so far, its great to get past that zero!

2010-01-23T08:00:00.000-05:00

Check out how cute this shop's items are! I love it.

A Short Interview With lterrill9

Hello all! My name is Leann and I am a single mother of two fantastic, crazy teenage girls. I love my life and love creating! My favorite items are my tic tac toe boards which are great when people want them customized to their favorite team, items or names in their family.

I love Etsy and have so many favorite shops, some include and you should totally visit are:
Dreamspirations
redneckcandles
megansflowerdolls
Antiquebasketlady

A book that best describes me is an oldie but a goodie "Where the red fern grows" it reminds me of my childhood and there were so many lessons to be learned in this book.
A song would have to be Wynonna Judd's "Flies in the Butter" I love Wynonna!

Favorite item that I have in my shop is The Mickey and Minnie tic tac toe. I customized one for someone once that they had me put the year that they went to disneyland and the names of their family members on the border of the board. They loved it and it truly makes me happy doing something for someone that gets so much joy from it!

My only other website that my items are on is:
www.allthingshandmademarketplace.com

Daily Etsy/Life routine goes a little something like this:
Up at 4:00am to make coffee and check my Etsy for sales. Package the items up for shipping, never forgetting to include the free gift! Do some promoting and checking facebook. Then getting my kids up for school, dropping them off and then off to the post office to ship! I work a full time job and when I get off it is straight home to make some new items, post them, make dinner and spend time with the family. I check Etsy again before bed and then it starts all over again!

My favorite past times are fishing, camping and family time! Let's not forget the shopping! I have an English Bulldog that loves to go camping and boating with us! It is so much fun.

I started making coasters last year when I couldn't find a set of bulldog coasters that I would pay the money that they were asking. I decided that I would make my own. Tiles absorb water and I thought that would be perfect for coasters. I then started experimenting with different kinds of paint that would also be durable enough for water. Once I finished my set (and loved them!) my friends and family saw them and started making their requests. Their friends saw and started calling and so on. I started doing craft shows and it all began there.

My favorite experience on Etsy is pretty much every single sale I make! It is truly fun when they leave feedback with how much they loved their item and how happy they are. I love my customers and the time they take to write me. Etsy has been a complete joy and I enjoy the friendships that I have made with other artisians.

Organization is a beatiful thing

2010-01-19T11:12:00.001-05:00

Finally getting a little more organized around here!!

Ornaments are here!

2010-01-18T22:36:00.002-05:00

Ornaments have finally arrive in our shop..yes, yes we know, Christmas is over, but the lovely thing about these ornaments is that they are great year round! They make fantastic gifts for all occasions and generations. And each one is unique, so unique - you could say they are truely One Of A Kind! That right there gives you great gifter points.

Weekly Feature Seller: BNazar

2010-01-16T08:00:00.000-05:00

This is such a unique shop, and brand new too! This shop is comprised of pendants made of my favorite material BUTTONS!!

A Short Interview With Bnazar

Tell us a little about yourself and your shop.

My shop has pendants in it that I have made from new and re-used buttons that I have either bought have been given by friends. I enjoy mixing the colours and styles and sizes to create new designs. My shop is only a month old and I'm hoping to expand to magnets and broaches and maybe even earrings and hair clips in the near future.
Do you have any sales or promotions you'd like to advertise?

Promotions: Nothing in my shop is over $10.

Name a few of your favorite Etsy shops.

Brynnalex: A great mix of stuff for a meaningful cause.
KMStudioDOTcom: Fun items upcycled from pop cans.
Mindielee: I bought a great ring from this shop.

What song/book best describes YOU?

I can't think of a title off the top of my head but I think I'm definitely a mystery or adventure novel because my life is always following interesting new plot twists.

What's your favorite item that you've ever made?
I'm very fond of my "b" pendant. I wear it a lot and have given other letters as gifts. I'm fond of the pendant in my banner as well.
Can we find your items on any other websites or in any stores?

Not at the moment. I'm still looking to expand and get my pieces out there.

What is your daily Etsy routine?

I usually like to sit down and create new pieces in the evening. I try to visit the forums a few times a day to keep in touch with other etsy sellers and to get my pieces out there.

Aside from creating items for your shops, what is your favorite pastime?
Outside of etsy I work in live theatre which is always an adventure. I'm also working towards becoming a published author and I'm an avid knitter.

What made you start working with buttons?
I work in a theatre wardrobe so there are always many different buttons around. So when I wanted to experiment and create some new jewelry buttons seemed like an interesting choice.

Tell us about your best customer/ favorite experience on Etsy.
I just had a great experience on etsy. I had my very first giveaway in honour of my shop's first month. I wound up chatting with prettynpunky and we discussed jewelry making different ideas. She was the last person who posted in my giveaway thread and she was very excited at the prospect of winning and when I drew the winning number it was hers. I though that was a great outcome in the etsy universe.

Weekly Feature Seller: GlenAndConstance

2010-01-09T08:00:00.001-05:00

Everyone that knows me knows that I love to repurpose! Check out this awesome shop on Etsy that focuses on repurposing!

A Short Interview with GlenAndConstance

Tell us a little about yourself and your shop.

Hola! I'm Amy, I'm a 21 year old dabbler just wrapping up my college career. During the day I'm an assistant in a costume shop, and also work as an assistant designer and wig stylist. My shop--Glen and Constance is named after my mom and myself--(our middle names). It is a mash-up of old and new for eco-friendly bold fashions.

Do you have any sales or promotions you'd like to advertise?

Free Shipping world wide, plus I've got a sale section in my shop that will be increasing as 09 ends an 10 begins!

Name a few of your favorite Etsy shops.

Brooklyn Rehab
Cuteability
Kjoo

What song/book best describes YOU?

"Nosebleed" by Illinois.

What's your favorite item that you've ever made?

When i was four, i made my mother trace my body on a piece of green jersey, and then i drew a dress around it, cut it out and stitched it together. Wore it for months--very Robin Hood chic. Sadly it doesn't exist anymore.

Can we find your items on any other websites or in any stores?

I've tried other online venues with no success, working on getting into local venues as well.

What is your daily Etsy routine?

I like to whip out a few pieces in the am, photo, edit and post, and then again in the evening. The weekends are the best time, I get together with my crafty buds and just bust out a bunch of work at once.

Aside from creating items for your shops, what is your favorite pastime?

Writing. Anything from plays to blogs.

When did you begin repurposing items?

I have loved shopping at Goodwill since I was a wee little thing, but always found things boring. Lets just say I've been doing it since before Urban and Anthro thought it was cool.

Tell us about your best customer/ favorite experience on Etsy.

All my customers have been great! I'd have to say my first was the most exciting, a dear friend of my mother bought herself a nice sweater I'd made--probably because her daughter was the model in the photo!

EtsyBloggers Carnival

2010-01-08T10:59:00.005-05:00

Now that 2010 is here, what do you have planned/look forward to/hope to accomplish this year?

Well, honestly I've never been one for planning out my life. I've always enjoyed living life day to day. I suppose now that I'm out of college and officially starting "life" that maybe I should consider starting to plan out some aspects of my life.

Let's see;

Goals for 2010:

1 Find a Job - one with pretty good pay, benefits, etc
2 Move Out - hopefully somewhere in the city - but where ever a job takes me is fine
3 Add some new items to my shop - ornaments, recycled greeting cards
4 Organize Crafting Materials - I've already done some of this; YES!!
5 Organize our small bedroom - time to put away the school materials and clean out the drawers; trip to IKEA here we come - I've already done some of this too; YES!!
6 Get information on possible Grad School programs - you never know; I kinda miss school, who would've thought

Now for the standard stuff:
7 It's time to join the gym - as soon as the dr. says go, of course (almost have the Graves Disease under control, yay!)
8 Save up some money
9 Make some major plans for life

Weekly Featured Seller: TesoroJewelry

2010-01-02T08:00:00.000-05:00

Check out TesoroJewelry's gorgeous jewelry.

A Short Interview With TesoroJewelry

Tell us a little about yourself and your shop.

My name is Jessica and I love to create. I just recently quit my day job to focus on all of my artistic interests. It has been fun and scary all at the same time. The best part is knowing I now have the time and freedom to really explore and it’s up to me what I accomplish. This is such a great self-motivation because I’m my own boss now – I don’t want to have to fire myself.

My shop currently features my jewelry designs. I like to think that my style is fresh and simple but bold. I want my pieces to be fun and great for everyday wear but can also make a statement when paired with a great outfit. I am planning to also add paintings, drawings, and photographic prints to my shop in the near future.

Do you have any sales or promotions you'd like to advertise?

Every month I have a special that I put in my Shop Announcements (ie. BOGO sale, free shipping, a % off, etc) that runs from the 1st to the end of each month.

Also, I do giveaways about once a month on my blog Tesoro Jewelry & Art

Name a few of your favorite Etsy shops.

adrianaoancia Fantastic painter.
Rocknwrap Amazing wrapped pendants
Bathgasm Super friendly Etsian and love her products

What's your favorite item that you've ever made?

My favorite item I’ve ever made is my Swarovski Crystal Tennis Bracelet.

A few years ago I went to a Gem Faire and a vendor was giving a free demonstration on how to do intricate weaving with swarovski crystals and Fireline. It took me a couple of tries to figure it out and then I was hooked. Each bracelet takes about 2-3 hours to make so I really feel like a lot of labor and love goes into each one. I think they look luxurious but are also so much fun!

Do you sell items on any other websites or stores?

Currently, Etsy is my main outlet but I also do a couple of craft shows/fairs a year. I created my Etsy shop awhile ago but only started really selling a couple of months ago. I would like to build my store up a bit more and then check out local boutiques and consignment stores.

What is your daily Etsy routine?

I check my email for Etsy purchases and convos in the morning. I spend some time responding to anything and then work on an order if I have one. If I don’t then I work on a new piece and take some photos to add to Etsy later (I like to add items at night). At night, I try to post an item and then visit the Etsy forums.

However, throughout the day, I am a constant checker of twitter and facebook. I’m sorry to say that I am a little addicted to Twitter.

Tweet me
Fan me

Aside from creating items for your shops, what is your favorite pastime?

I love to paint, draw, dabble in photography, craft, and scrapbook. I also teach art classes and tutor. When I’m not creating – I try to soak up as much time as I can hanging out with my husband. Also, I’m a huge book fanatic. I love curling up on the coach, fireplace on, blanket ready, hot cocoa in hand (I love that it’s now cool enough for hot cocoa!), and settling in with a good book.

When did you start making jewelry? Tell us the story.

When I was about 8 years old, a family friend took me to her work (a Beading and Jewelry supply store) and showed me how to make simple bracelets with wire and beads. I remember having a ton of fun buying funky beads from Micheals Craft Store and making fun bracelets for family and friends. I didn’t really get much more into making jewelry because this was around the time that I started taking painting and craft classes which consumed a lot of my then 8 year old attention span.

When I was a senior in high school, that same family friend got me a job at that Beading and Jewelry supply store. Aside from what I had learned from her and taught myself when I was younger, I didn’t know much about making jewelry. I didn’t even have my ears pierced! After learning many techniques and making a bunch of pairs for myself, I got my ears pierced pretty soon after.

It was so much fun to be in that environment - everyone was so creative – it was fantastic. It was great to learn different and exciting techniques from my coworkers and even customers! The best part of that job was all of my coworkers. We were a big family – listening, giving advice, bouncing ideas off each other. They are the ones that encouraged me to start making my own jewelry. I probably wouldn’t have started without their support. And of course, we all stay in touch and sometimes still swap ideas with each other.

Weekly Featured Seller: KreatedByKarina

2009-12-26T08:00:00.000-05:00

Talk about having common scents! Hehe Check out KreatedbyKarina's lovely soaps! Here are a few of her winter and Christmas scents you should all try out.

A Short Interview With KreatedByKarina

Tell us a little about yourself and your shop.

Soap That Makes Scents is a handmade bath and beauty company run by me, a Canadian-transplant, and my American-born husband, Richard. We live and play in New York City, one of the best places to network in the world.

At Soap That Makes Scents, we believe in minimal but pretty packaging. We believe in small handmade batches to ensure freshness. And we believe that using high-quality ingredients in our soaps should not mean that we have to sacrifice low pricing for you.

Do you have any sales or promotions you'd like to advertise?

I would like to offer your readers a FREE Chocolate S'Mores lip balm *with any purchase* Simply mention that you saw this feature in the note to seller when checking out.

Name a few of your favorite Etsy shops.

A few of the places I've shopped with before:

SkinzNhydez.etsy.com
boxbliss.etsy.com
matydavis.etsy.com

What song/book best describes YOU?

Wow this is a hard one...if I had to choose a song, it would be "Have A Nice Day" or "Invincible" both by Bon Jovi

What's your favorite item that you've ever made?

My favorites change depending upon my mood...but right now it's my East Meets West Soap

Do you sell items on any other websites or stores?

Etsy is the only online venue, and our "HeadQuarters" as they say---I wholesale to various retail boutiques across the States and Canada. Recently we were featured in InStyl Magazine and TimeOut NY Magazine, just found out that we will be featured by In & Out Magazine as well!

What is your daily Etsy routine?

Soap That Makes Scents is a fulltime business, and so because of that, our day starts earlier and ends much later than normal "outside" jobs do. Online orders are checked and packaged inbetween batches of daily soap-making, and buyer inquiries are handled throughout the day. Some times we're lucky enough to find time to eat or take a walk (but normally our ventures outside include shopping for or picking up supplies). Our day ends usually around 11pm, unless we're getting ready for a show---then we're up much later than that for at least a week or two prepping.

Aside from creating items for your shops, what is your favorite pastime?

I would have to say reading, when I'm able to get around to it. I can totally lose myself in a good book. I love historical fiction.

When did you begin making soap? Is there a story behind it?

Several years ago I accompanied my husband on a business trip to England--tired of hanging around the hotel inbetween conferences and dinner banquets, I found a local soap-making class not too far away from where we were staying, and it seemed like an interesting way to pass the time one day...the rest is history! After a couple of years spent honing my craft, I established my business in 2001 through craftshows and private homeshows. In 2006, Soap That Makes Scents went full-time!

Tell us about your best customer/ favorite experience on Etsy.

Oh I've had so many. There is one customer in particular that does come to mind right now. She's also an Etsy seller, and is an absolute ANGEL to work with. Everytime I speak to her about an order, I feel as though I'm chatting with a friend...we've gotten to know each other quite well over the years and she always brings a smile to my face---you know the type of customer that really appreciates the "little touches"? The kind of buyer that's the REASON why a seller strives to do so well? That's LaurieRyan.etsy.com

Christmas Cookies

2009-12-21T17:56:00.002-05:00

I've never made these cookies, but I absolutely love sugar cookies so I know I will love these when I have time to make them.

Yield: 4-5 dozen

Ingredients

2 sticks (1/2 lb.) unsalted butter
1 2/3 cups sugar
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
2 large eggs
3 2/3 cups all-purpose flour
1 1/2 cups Royal Icing
White sanding sugar, optional

Preparation

For Sugar Cookies: Cream butter and 1 2/3 cups sugar in bowl of an electric mixer and beat until fluffy, about 5 minutes. Add vanilla, baking powder and salt and beat at medium speed until mixed. Add eggs; beat until blended. Add flour and mix at low speed until combined, scraping down bowl once or twice. For Spice Cookies: Beat 2 Tbsp. sugar, ginger, cinnamon and allspice into full batch of Sugar Cookie dough. For Lemon Cookies: Beat lemon zest into full batch of Sugar Cookie dough. For Chocolate Cookies: Follow Step 1, but add cocoa powder after beating in eggs and then add only 2 2/3 cups flour.

Divide dough in half. Using hands, shape dough into discs, wrap tightly in plastic wrap and chill until firm, at least 1 hour and up to 2 days.

Arrange racks in upper and lower thirds of oven and preheat oven to 350°F. Line 2 large cookie sheets with parchment.

Remove 1 disc of dough from refrigerator. Roll out on a lightly floured surface to 1/4-inch to 1/8-inch thickness. Cut cookies into stars, snowflakes or any other shapes. Transfer cookies, with a metal spatula, to baking sheets and chill for 10 minutes. Bake cookies 12 to 15 minutes, depending upon thickness and size, rotating pans halfway through, until golden and firm to touch. Cool for 5 minutes, transfer with a metal spatula to racks and let cool. Repeat with remaining dough.

To decorate cookies with solid icing, put some Royal Icing in a pastry bag with a small plain, round tip. (Or put icing in a sturdy plastic bag and snip a tiny hole in one corner.) Pipe around edge of each cookie and let dry. Stir 1 Tbsp. water into another portion of Royal Icing to soften; put thinned icing in a clean pastry bag or new plastic bag. Pipe icing onto each cookie, flooding inside of border. Let dry. Re-pipe border. Sprinkle cookie with sanding sugar, shake off excess and let dry.

To decorate cookies with stripes and dots, use thicker icing and pipe designs as shown in photos. (Cookies may be stored, tightly covered, in a tin for up to 2 weeks.)

EtsyBlogger of the Month: Calkat

2009-12-19T13:08:00.001-05:00

This month featured EtsyBlogger is Calkat. They have been making and designing OOAK pieces of jewelry for over 5 years.

Calkat can be found on a few other Etsy shops as well:
http://Ametista.etsy.com
http://TheClayShoppe.etsy.com
http://YogaFairies.etsy.com

When they aren't making and listing items on Etsy, they have a wonderful blog to take care of.

Weekly Featured Seller: StudioMME

2009-12-19T08:00:00.000-05:00

StudioMME is a wonderful shop of pen & ink prints and other art items. Check out their shop.

A Short Interview With StudioMME

Tell us a little about yourself and your shop.

I'm finishing up the last semester of my undergraduate degrees in art and creative writing at Minnesota State University Moorhead. I've always been drawn to Victorian style and my love for pen and ink started when my dad read me Edward Gorey's, "The Gashlycrumb Tinies," as a bedtime story. I opened my shop in February to see if I could prove to my mother (a business major) that I could indeed be a level-headed person who could run a business.

What song/book best describes YOU?
Oh goodness. I'd have to say Diana Wynne Jones' book, "Howl's Moving Castle," best describes me. Sophie, the main character, shares my extreme curiosity with the world around her and yet maintains her composure while wizards are blowing up the house around her. She thinks for herself and remains optimistic, despite the fact that she's been turned into a 90-year-old woman.

Do you sell items on any other websites or stores?
In addition to my Etsy shop, I also sell signed and limited edition prints on my website. There are also note cards and bookmarks for sale there as well.

Aside from creating items for your shops, what is your favorite pastime? My second degree is in creative writing, so I'm invariably working on a new children's story or reading one. Currently I'm editing my middle-read book, "Harietta and the Horticultural Witch," for my last creative writing class.

When did you realize you wanted to begin selling your art? Who gave you the most encouragement? Tell us a story
My mother is certainly the one who inspired me to start selling my work. My father is the artistic one, so he kept encouraging me to produce more work, but it was my mother who wanted me to make a living at it. Or rather, show her I could make a living at it. I had sold my work before at sales on campus, but I made it my goal over last Christmas to apply for a business name, get a tax id number, and set up a website. I even inspired my boyfriend, a photographer, to do the same. We made it a race to see who could get their paperwork and websites done first. He won by a day.

Catnip Christmas Present

2009-12-14T15:58:00.003-05:00

Weekly Featured Seller: CazHoffy

2009-12-12T08:00:00.000-05:00

CazHoffy is a great Etsy shop! They have a variety of the cutest booties and burp clothes you may come across. Here are some sample of her work, but definitely check out her shop too. These would make great Christmas gifts if you know someone that is expecting!

A Short Interview With CazHoffy

Tell us a little about yourself and your shop.

I'm a mum of 1 very mischievous 2 year old boy, i gave up work when i had him and have since been looking for something that i can enjoy and use my brain with that doesnt involve play dough or the park!! When i saw one of my friends from schools shop (www.lizziejayne.etsy.com) and then started to browse through lots of other shops on etsy that i thought i wonder if i could do something! So whilst browsing i fell in love with all the wonderful fabric they have in the US and my husband encouraged me to buy a pack and see what i could do! Then in further shopping i found HomeSpreadThreads and her wonderful blog with many super cute patterns and put 2 and 2 together and i had a shop!

Do you have any sales or promotions you'd like to advertise?

Only 1 promotion at the mo:
Buy any pair of Kimono booties and 1 Burp cloth for $17
Buy any pair of Kimono booties and a set of 2 Burp cloths for $20

Name a few of your favorite Etsy shops.

Bombus Lane
Sunsetgirl
Flapperfashions
LilliannaMarie

What's your favorite item that you've ever made?

These were my favourites and these are probably my current favs

Do you sell items on any other websites or stores?

Nope only Etsy

What is your daily Etsy routine?

Check emails in the morning to see if there are ant sales that need posting!
From 2 - 5 lots of sewing, taking photos, photo editing and listing
Evening - promoting in forums and most recently on facebook.

Aside from creating items for your shops, what is your favorite pastime?

I love to be outside, me and my little monster have to go out somewhere every day else we go crazy, and im also a big shopper, i love clothes and fashion and anything related to it!

When/Why did you start making booties?

I started making them in August of this year purely because i fell in love with style of them and how cute they looked in fabric i first brought! Making tiny things is so much fun!!

December Giveaway: Win a Keyfob

2009-12-06T23:52:00.002-05:00

If you have to fill that missing link from your hand to your keys or just need that one extra gift for someone, check out Nana Thena's Blog to win one of my Keyfobs!! Your choice from my shop of color/design. I will ship directly to you if you are the winner. Simply visit her blog to learn how to enter.

PLEASE do not enter on this blog! Unfortunately, if you do, you entry won't be counted.

Weekly Featured Seller: Unkamengifts

2009-12-05T08:00:00.000-05:00

I love this type of jewelry! Check out Unkamengifts' unique jewelry and the story behind it.

A Short Interview With Unkamengifts

Tell us a little about yourself and your shop.

The Helmrich Family is a creative bunch! Everyday we work, learn and play together and Unkamengifts is the main shop for the Helmrich Family's finished jewelry. Ralph, Karen, Leah and Byron all contribute to the shops' success. Unkamengifts features Sterling Silver and Colorful Chainmaille Jewelry and Accessories.

Do you have any sales or promotions you'd like to advertise?

Every week we have a "7 Days 7 Sales" promotion. Every week we randomly place 7 items from our shop at HALF Price! We use a cool tool at Random. org to randomly (LOL) generate 7 numbers which correspond to the current items in our shops, according to their current listing order with the most recently listed item equally #1.
These items are Half Price for 7 Days and then will return to their regular price. If the randomly selected items are already on clearance, they are reduced an additional 50%!

Name a few of your favorite Etsy shops.

Fav shops would include:
Jgoode
Kzoretic
Averysattic

We buy a lot from other Etsyians and love the handmade concept.

What song/book best describes YOU?

We are all big Enya fans...so maybe Wild Child

What's your favorite item that you've ever made?

http://www.flickr.com/photos/unkamengifts/3984857126/

We made these for a SIDS Support Group. It was a moving experience.
Do you sell items on any other websites or stores?

We have 2 other Etsy Shop's: FavMoonGirl, UnkamenSupplies and then a coop site with several good friends: OurHandmadeGift
We go to about a half dozen craft shows a year and have a special sale for CARE an adult day care in Livingston, TX every year where we donate 25% of our sales.

What is your daily Etsy routine?

I am on Etsy right after my morning Yoga and breakfast~well, sometimes I bring my bowl of cereal over to the computer. I pretty much work at Etsy all day, off and on and definitely check, convo, relist, whatever last thing of the day. If I have new creations to photograph and the sun is shining, then I try to do that late morning when the light is best. I edit and post all the listings. Leah makes jewelry and also handles all the packaging and shipping. Ralph makes jewelry. Byron loves to make buttons, which is a new venture for us. He and Ralph are also planning to learn to make soldered creatures.
This is full time for us as of a few months ago. We had been pretty successful selling finished goods, but started selling handmade supplies 4 months ago and that has really taken off.

Aside from creating items for your shops, what is your favorite pastime?

Favorite pastimes for us as a family include traveling in our RV, hiking National Parks, taking walks with our dogs, reading( our Missouri home has a hall that is floor to ceiling book cases complete with a Putnam rolling ladder) and watching something funny every day(we rent/buy seasons of Friends, 2 1/2 Men, Frasier etc). We don't have TV except for VHS and DVD's....meaning no cable or satellite in the house.

When did you begin making jewelry?

We started almost 5 years ago when Leah met another RV'ing family whose daughter made jewelry. She showed Leah a few basics and Leah just loved it. Ralph started with a chainmaille kit from Hobby Lobby and also, just LOVED it! I have been an amateur photographer all my life as well as a writer, so posting the Etsy listings of my families' creations is a natural culmination of those interests. A good friend suggested that we try selling on Etsy and just over 2 years ago we followed her advice.

Happy Thanksgiving!

2009-11-26T10:59:00.002-05:00

Happy Thanksgiving!

Gift Wrap your Purchase

2009-11-24T10:59:00.002-05:00

All of my items standard come wrapped in tissue paper, but for the holidays, I like adding something more. Here is you opportunity to request it!

By adding this item to your cart along with your purchase, you item will be gift wrapped in a box, with either white or red wrapping paper

To this I will add one or more of the following embellishments:
Lace
Ribbon
Twine
Bows
Pinecones
Berrys
Beads
Spruce Sprigs
Snowflake
Decorative Paper
Pompoms
Stamped Stencil
Bells

Christmas Movie

2009-11-21T23:20:00.004-05:00

I would have to say "you'll shoot your eye out!" I mean, A Christmas Story is definitely my favorite Christmas holiday movie. It's the only movie I can watch 6 times everyday up until Christmas.

Oh, yea it was pretty funny to see today while I was scanning the newspaper adds for coupons that Rite Aid is selling my favorite lamp this year! You should go to your local Rite Aid to see if they are selling it too. It's a great gag gift for anyone on your list that loves the movie.

Weekly Featured Seller: WigglySee

2009-11-21T08:00:00.003-05:00

I love Amigurumi! So soft and cuddly, great for kids and adults! Check out WigglySee's shop.

A Short Interview With WigglySee

Tell us a little about yourself and your shop.

I currently live in Atlanta, Georgia but was born in up-state New York. I was taught to crochet by my grandmother . I started with the usual afghans and pillows but they take to long and I was impatient to see the completed product. I then switched to toys and found my love, My shop is full of many different types of crocheted stuffed toys. I prefer the older style stuffed toys that I grew up with. I keep my prices lower than most because this is my love, I want to bring as many smiles to the little ones faces.

Name a few of your favorite Etsy shops.

One of my favorite shops is :
Happywhosits Her Creations are adorable .

What's your favorite item that you've ever made?

My favorite item I have made has to be my sweet little angel. She reminds me of the one my sister had as a baby.

What is your daily Etsy routine?

Every day I check my site for any new messages, orders that need to be completed. I list any new toys that I have compIeted. I promote my shop and new listing within the forums . I try to provide guidance within the forums to anyone that needs help with their shops.

Aside from creating items for your shops, what is your favorite pastime?

I love to read mystery stories and watch scifi movies. During baseball season I just love to crochet while I watch the ball games.

When/why did you begin making Amigurumi? Is there a story behind it?

My grandmother taught me to crochet when I was little. When I left for college I had no way to get home on weekends and needed some thing to keep me busy besides studying. I started making my toys since they were faster and easier than the afghans I had been making. I would sell them for extra money. I just never stopped making them and started going to craft fairs later in my life.

Eek, Mice!

2009-11-19T23:42:00.002-05:00

Some cute mice I just packed up for a custom order. I love the color combinations my customer picked out for this order.

TheFabMissB - EtsyBlogger of the Month

2009-11-17T09:31:00.004-05:00

This month's Featured EtsyBlogger is TheFabMissB. She loves to travel, write, paint, bake, read, ransack thrift shops, drink champagne and make beautiful things to use and enjoy. She has two Etsy shops:

Here are some of the items from TheFabMissB shop:

And her other shop is Becky Kazana

Interesting fact about the name Kazana:
My funny last name “Kazana” is a Swahili word which means “to make a home”. My husband and I fell in love with this philosophy during our travels in Africa, and decided to adopt Kazana as our last name. It reminds us that our home is not a physical place, but our life together.

Here items are adorable, so I do hope you will check them out.

Here are some other ways you might follow her work and even have a chat with Becky:

Website
Blog
Flickr
Facebook
Twitter

The amazing things I never knew you could do with sand

2009-11-16T10:46:00.001-05:00

Weekly Featured Seller: CrochetRus

2009-11-14T08:00:00.001-05:00

Talk about an expert crocheter! I love to crochet, and it's something I sell as well, but I do have to say that the girls at Crochet R Us are amazing at what they do! And these gorgeous photos will should you all you need to know!

A Short Interview With CrochetRus

Tell us a little about yourself and your shop.

My name is Lora; I and my older sister Mareenez offer a variety of hand crocheted items in our shop. We are 14 and 17. Mareenez is a homeschool graduate; I'm in 10th grade this school year. We have 2 other sisters and a little brother and live in a house across the street from a bay in NY.

Name a few of your favorite Etsy shops.

Among my favorite Etsy shops are
SilverCloud07 (my oldest sister's Etsy shop!)
CrochetedWithLove
StaceyRebecca
AppleandJax

What's your favorite item that you've ever made?

This is a big favorite of mine!

Do you sell items on any other websites or stores?

No, Etsy is the only place we sell right now though we do have a couple of items listed on Artfire.

What is your daily Etsy routine?

Early morning, I check our shop/email for sales and convos. I respond to what I can before school starts. After school ends, I work on orders if any came in. If no sales came in, I like to hang out in the forums and chatrooms on Etsy.

Aside from creating items for your shops, what is your favorite pastime?

I love baking and babysitting so that takes up a lot of my free time. I also enjoy reading.

Did someone teach you how to crochet? How long have you been crocheting?

A Sunday School teacher taught Mareenez to crochet at the age of 9. She also taught me to crochet when I was 8. So 6 years for me and 8 years for Mareenez!

Fall into Autumn

2009-11-13T09:24:00.006-05:00

I suppose it's because the trees no longer have leaves and the flowers have almost all withered, but I decided to make some flowers as a memory of spring and summer.

Mabelle after the vet

2009-11-12T08:33:00.001-05:00

Recipe: Chicken with Balsamic Vinegar

2009-11-08T13:00:00.000-05:00

Chicken with Balsamic Vinegar

Bon Appétit | December 1991

Yield: Serves 4

2 tablespoons olive oil
1 cup finely chopped onion
2 large garlic cloves, minced
1 1/4 pounds boneless skinless chicken breasts, cut into 1-inch pieces
2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar or 1 1/2 tablespoons red wine vinegar
1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
1/4 cup chopped fresh basil (optional)

Heat oil in heavy large skillet over medium-high heat. Add onion and garlic and sauté until just tender, about 4 minutes. Add chicken and cook until chicken is brown, stirring constantly, about 3 minutes. Stir in vinegar and mustard. Continue cooking until chicken is tender and cooked through, stirring constantly, about 3 minutes. Season with salt and pepper. Sprinkle with basil if desired.

****************************************************************

Along with the chicken, we made tri-color rotini pasta and a bag of spinach (we are only 2 people, so if cooking for 4 you will need 2 bags of spinach). when everything was cooked, we mixed it all together in the chicken skillet and served to plates.

It was amazing!! Definitely something that even your kids will enjoy.

Weekly Featured Seller: AlyshellsCraftShack

2009-11-07T08:00:00.001-05:00

This has to be one of the most unique shops I have ever come across on Etsy and I absolutely love it! Alyshells makes awesome little monster drawings and figures. Check out her shop!

A Short Interview With AlyshellsCraftShack

Tell us a little about yourself and your shop.

Hey, I'm Alyshells. I'm a 20 year old from Delaware. I go to college in Philadelphia and study Illustration and Ceramics. My shop features psychedelic ceramics and fun monster sculptures.

Do you have any sales or promotions you'd like to advertise?

Monsters and candy dishes are great for Halloween so get them before the big day!

Name a few of your favorite Etsy shops.

EcoChicHandKnits has beautiful knitted bowls. They remind me so much of throwing on the wheel in ceramics. And I love throwing bowls:

SlouchieHats is also a great shop. Beautiful hats for the upcoming winter months and just my style!

What song best describes YOU?

Ben Kweller- Magic. I've been in love with this guys music even since I first started making art. Wonderful musician.

What's your favorite item that you've ever made?

Rotunda Extatic, I just love his smile.

Do you sell items on any other websites or stores?

Nope, I'm an Etsy exclusive!

What is your daily Etsy routine?

My Etsy routine is nuts. But, I balance college, family life, Etsy, eating, breathing and bathing pretty well, as hectic as it may be! I usually do my Etsying in big bursts. I develop monster characters, then sculpt them, post and promote. :)

Aside from creating items for your shops, what is your favorite pastime?

It HAS to be gardening. I'm an avid horticulturist and love being out in my vegetable garden.

When/Why did you begin making monsters? Is there a story behind it?

I started making monsters in college. One of my teachers told me I'll only be successful if I do what I love and don't worry about what other people think of my art. So I scribble shapes I like, then they turn themselves into monsters! It's really a magical process that I love doing.

Halloween Sale

2009-11-01T09:26:00.002-05:00

If you're looking for a good sale today, check out my shop! Enter the code: HLLWN in the Notes to Seller box during your purchase and receive a 15% discount. 15% of your purchase will be refund to you through your paypal!

Weekly Featured Seller: KittyKatKards

2009-10-31T08:00:00.001-04:00

Happy Halloween Weekend Everyone! On this very special Saturday Halloween I bring to you KittyKatKards's Halloween card section! They are origami and absolutely beautiful! Every child and adult would be stunned to receive one of these in the mail!

A Short Interview With KittyKatKards

Tell us a little about yourself and your shop.

Hi, my name is Tina, 26 years old, from Maryland, USA, and my Etsy shop is KittyKatKards. The shop mainly focuses on origami and greeting cards that have origami on them. My signature items are the origami dress embellishment and origami dress card.

Do you have any sales or promotions you'd like to advertise?

Not at the moment, but maybe when it gets close to Christmas time.

Name a few of your favorite Etsy shops.
ArtisticCreations
BubbleTime
SunBasilGarden

What song/book best describes YOU?

The first thing came to mind was "The Very Hungry Caterpillar" by Eric Carle.
What's your favorite item that you've ever made?

I think there's something really special about doing custom orders for people and bringing their own ideas to life, wedding-related requests especially. I've done a few that involve making my origami dress cards into "Will you be my bridesmaid?" cards and table tents.

Do you sell items on any other websites or stores?

My work is featured at ArtSpring in Silver Spring, MD.

What is your daily Etsy routine?
I keep Etsy open on a browser almost all day long so I can monitor any sales or convos that come through. I do most of my cardmaking during the weekends and after dinner on the weekdays to wind down.

Aside from creating items for your shops, what is your favorite pastime?

I enjoy hanging out with family/friends, reading, watching movies, and going to spin class.

When did you begin making origami? Did someone teach you?

My love for origami started with my mom, who taught me how to make paper cranes and goldfish when I was a little kid. I learned how to do a few more models by researching them online.

Special Featured Seller: Autumn Wind Dolls

2009-10-26T07:00:00.000-04:00

Check out AutumnWindDolls' amazing Halloween Decorations.

A Short Interview With AutumnWindDolls

Tell us a little about yourself and your shop.

I've been married for about 4 years to a really supportive, funny guy and I have one teenager that has a great sense of humor. This atmosphere helps me create some fun sculpted art pieces. I love taking something average and everyday and changing it into something quirky and funny. I opened my Etsy shop back in 2007 and sold my first reborn baby Frankenstein doll.
http://ny-image0.etsy.com/il_fullxfull.9299540.jpg

Now that I'm home full time, I have the opportunity to work on my sculptures all the time. I'll be listing more Halloween items and look for Christmas sculptures coming soon.

What is your inspiration?

We have a bunch of pets that offer entertainment and inspiration. For my Tuxedo Cat Halloween Circus items, I combined two things I love - sculpting and my male cat "Nancy". He was the inspiration for the chubby bellied cat figures. He is also the "go-to-guy" when you need to take a break from sculpting and nap.

Our other pets - Mastiffs and ferrets - also inspire me to make silly things. Currently I'm working on a mini Frankenstein reborn baby although I don't have an actual Frankenstein baby at home.

Name a few of your favorite Etsy shops.

Some of my favorite Etsy shops are:
FeltLikeStitchin.etsy.com has some of the coolest, funniest felt creations!
This shop is just too funny - staceyrebecca.etsy.com
Love this shop - HotDigitalDog.etsy.com
For cool earrings - KahiliCreations.etsy.com
What's your favorite item that you've ever sold?

The item that's my favorite and is currently available for sale is: The Too Much Candy Tuxedo Cat
http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=29143355
Do you sell items on any other websites or stores?

I don't have a website to sell my items but who knows... maybe soon!
What song/book best describes YOU?

I don't really know a song or book that can best describe me. If there is a song or book about someone who finds humor in the everyday, who likes to sculpt, loves Indie music and is addicted to true crime court and forenics shows, let me know. It was probably written about me. :)

Here Mousy, Mousy

2009-10-25T19:00:00.000-04:00

Check out this awesome Mouse I made by modifying this pattern I found online.

I used ww yarn, and an F hook.
Do not join rounds, the mouse is made in one complete spiral.
Use stitch markers or safety pins to mark end of each round

Starting at nose, and working down to tail:
Ch 2
1) 6sc in 2nd chain from hook
2) (2 sc in first sc, sc in next sc) repeat around ( 9 sc)
3) (2 sc in first sc, sc in next 2 sc) repeat around (12 sc)
4) sc in each sc around
5) (2 sc in first sc, sc in next 3 sc) repeat around (16 sc)
It is easiest if you embroider face here
6) sc in each sc around
7) (2 sc in first sc, sc in next 4 sc) repeat around (18 sc)
8) (2 sc in first sc, sc in next 5 sc) repeat around (21 sc)
9) sc in each sc around
10) (2 sc in first sc, sc in next 6 sc) repeat around (24 sc)
11) sc in each sc around.
12) (sc dec, sc in next 4 sc) repeat around ( 20 sc)
13) (sc dec, sc in next 3 sc) repeat around (16 sc)
14) (sc dec, sc in next 2 sc) repeat around (12 sc)
Stuff
15) (sc dec, sc in next sc) repeat around (8 sc)
16) sc dec around (4 sc)
Do not finish off
Chain 12 (this will become the tail)
Slip stitch in 2nd chain from tail, and in remaining chains going up to body.
Finish off leaving long tail.
Use long tail to close hole if necessary, weave in end.

Ear (make 2)
Chain 2
1) 6 sc in 2nd chain from hook
2) 2 sc in each sc around (12 sc)
DO NOT JOIN THIS LAST ROUND
Finish off. (by not joining, it gives you a few slightly flatter stitches, this part gets sewn on to mouse)

Contrast Ear (make 2)
With contrast color,
Chain 2
1) 5 sc in 2nd chain from hook
Join to first sc, and finish off leaving long tail
Sew contrast to ears
Sew ears to mouse.
Placement notes: I cross stitched a small "X" at the very tip of mouse for nose. (in pink)
I sewed on small button doll eyes between rows 2-3 for eyes
I sewed the ears on, using row 5.
Enjoy your mouse!

Breast Cancer Awareness Showcase

2009-10-24T22:36:00.015-04:00

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month

Save the TaTas!!

Weekly Featured Seller: Opportune Arts

2009-10-24T08:00:00.007-04:00

Opportune Arts is a beautiful photography shop on Etsy selling a mix of size prints and cards. Take a look. Visit Natalie's shop!

A Short Interview with Opportune Arts

Tell us a little about yourself and your shop.

I am a full-time college student in Portland, Oregon. I opened my shop a few months ago and I normally feature my photography. Every once and awhile I will put up something else, like a handmade card or something, but photography is mainly what I put in my shop. I like to think that people can find images that make them happy or that they want to give as a gift to someone else.

Do you have any sales or promotions you'd like to advertise?

When you buy any 8 x 10, you receive two FREE 4 x 6 prints. If you purchase a 5 x 7 you will get one FREE 4 x 6 print.

Name a few of your favorite Etsy shops.

I really love to look around at all different shops to find awesome, unique items, so it's hard to pick favorites. Here are a few that I like:

FancifulForm
machinegunlullaby
Paradise Sunrise Essentials

When did you receive your first camera? Did someone special give it to you?

I honestly can't remember when I received my first camera. I'm sure that it was my parents that gave it to me (a disposable kind) because my parents have always encouraged my love of creativity and photography. They are the best!

What song/book best describes YOU?

I really love music, so this is a tough question! I think I would have to choose "Bohemian Rhapsody" by Queen because there are so many different styles in that song and I like to try a lot of different types of crafts and art. I love Queen!

What's your favorite item that you've ever made?

This is one of my favorite photographs that I have taken: Sunset on the Columbia

I think I love it so much because it shows the Columbia River Gorge and I think it exemplifies the beauty of the northwest that I am so lucky to get to enjoy all of the time.

Do you sell items on any other websites or stores?
I only sell my items on Etsy. It is such a wonderful community and I really love being on it!

What is your daily Etsy routine?
Well, considering I don't have a ton of sales yet, I'm always trying to think of new ideas for things I can make that people will enjoy. For instance, I just today put up a new listing for photo note cards where buyers can choose any pictures they would like and I will make them into cards for them. Because I go to school full-time and work, sometimes it's hard to fit in time on Etsy. I come on here at least a few times a day (it's addicting) and post on the forums and read about what other people are doing. When I do get a sale, I spend part of the day packaging the item and taking it to the post office. Otherwise, I am normally enjoying everyone else's great items!

Aside from creating items for your shops, what is your favorite pastime?
Well, I am a cheerleading coach, so I love doing that and getting to see the girls on the team improve. I also love to sing, dance, hang out with my family and friends, listen to music, laugh, and watch the TV shows that I am addicted to! :)

MadeByMelissa- EtsyBlogger of the Month

2009-10-21T13:00:00.001-04:00

As you all may have noticed, I have joined the EtsyBloggers Team! Once a month we have a Featured EtsyBlogger, that each member will write about on their blogs. This month, we are celebrating MadeByMelissa. Take some time to read about and visit her lovely shop.

Melissa is from New Jersey and makes jewelry and fiber items. If you live in the area you can visit her at these upcoming events:

11/14 - Holiday Craft Fair & Market, Bogota High School, Bogota, NJ, 10 AM - 6 PM
11/21 - Englewood Holiday Craft Boutique, First Presbyterian Church of Englewood, Englewood, NJ, 10 AM - 4 PM

She currently has many Halloween themed items in her shop, so if you're into celebrating, check it out!

Halloween 2009

2009-10-20T14:27:00.004-04:00

This Halloween we want to go above and beyond. It is almost becoming a tradition to out do ourselves from the previous year. Last year we hung a skeleton in the tree out front, put a red film over the light in the fountain to make it look like blood and had a "bloody" arm hanging out of the fountain. Along with the giant spider web, and webbing hanging over the walkway so you walk into it as you are Trick-Or-Treating.

This year we are adding to the creepiness. =) While keeping the spider webbing, we have receive a rather large spider and intend on mounting it on the big tree in the yard. We now have bats, skulls, form bones and very scared-y-cat:
I know, He is little freaky and a lot of OMG! LOL!

I'm looking for some Caution tape, and maybe something to do with the wooden fence that is near our front door. I might even dress up and drop something from the tree as people walk by. Who knows. I'm still looking for ideas. Have any?

Help out your friends

2009-10-19T10:43:00.004-04:00

One of my upcoming featured sellers is having a sale and a Giveaway! It must be your lucky day!

CrochetRus is offering my blog readers free shipping off any purchase! Please enter the code ‘blog special’ in the message to seller box. She will refund the shipping to your Paypal account. This offer is valid from now until Sunday, October 25th.

We're having a giveway!
"Enter to win a Newborn Teddy Bear Ha t from The Crochet Sisters. This newborn size crocheted beanie with cute lil ears is made with a soft 100% acrylic yarn in dark gold. It will fit heads up to approximately 13". This would make the perfect gift for anyone expecting a Christmas baby!"

Recipe: Dessert or Just a Snack

2009-10-18T08:03:00.001-04:00

I forgot to tell you about the most delicious snack or dessert I have ever made and eaten. These are my Homemade Parfaits. Their are 2 slightly variations to the recipe.

Ingredients:
Vanilla Yogurt
Fruit of your choice: blueberry, strawberry, banana
2 Oreos per serving

Okay, the steps are super super easy.

In a martini or scotch glass (to make it look fancy) cover the bottom in a thin layers of thin Banana Slices. Next smooth a slightly thicker layer of yogurt over the slices. In a separate glass or container, use a spoon to crush your Oreos. Sprinkle a thin, even layer of Oreos on top of your yogurt layer. Next add a layer of sliced strawberries and a few blueberries. Top with another thick layer of yogurt. Place a whole strawberry on the top in the middle, surrounded by blueberries and banana pieces. Spinkle top of dessert with the rest of your crushed Oreos. Serve on a small plate with additional whole blueberries and strawberries.

Enjoy!

Let me know how yours turns out.

Weekly Featured Seller: TheBeehive

2009-10-17T08:00:00.000-04:00

This week's featured seller is TheBeehive! This is one shop I can't get enough of. I love just visiting her shop to what's new that she has come up with. I absolutely love her scrapbook

A Short Interview With TheBeehive

Tell us a little about yourself.
I'm the stay at home mamma to two fantastic little boys, ages 3 and 5, a wonderful husband, a catahoula, a pug and a cat. In my past life I was a graphic designer and designed greeting cards where the seed of my paper addiction was planted. Who knew I'd become a scrapping junkie?
What item of yours do you like the best?

I think my current favorite in my shop is my Cherry Blossom Memory Catcher.

When and why did you begin offering items for sale on Etsy?
I heard about Etsy through a fellow scrapbooking friend. I've never been a big fan of working a 9-5 job and Etsy sounded like the perfect way to test the waters of having my own business doing something I love. I love scrapbooking and having a fantastic way to show off and protect my pictures and I think it's great that I get to do that for others.

What is your daily Etsy routine?
The morning is the calmest part of my day so after the boys are fed I get my cup of coffee and make my internet rounds. I check my shop for sales or communications, check in with my Etsy teams, I Twitter and email. I also try to blog every day.

The rest of the day is all about my boys and crafting happens during naps and at night after they're tucked into bed.
What are your short and/or long term goals for your shop?

I hope The Beehive will grow as my boys do so that when they're both in school I won't have to go back to a "real" job. I want my Etsy shop to grow but I also want to expand to the real world doing craft shows and selling in local shops.
Name a few of your favorite Etsy shops.

Oh, there are so many wonderful shops on Etsy! I am really loving buying handmade supplies from my fellow Etsians these days and two of my current faves are Aimoobaroo and Tessa Ann
Aside from creating items for your shops, what is your favorite pastime?
I am truly a lover of scrapbooking so I work on my own books as much as possible. I also love cuddling my puggie, taking snapshots of my boys, and soaking up crafting, design and art inspiration wherever I can.

Before our very eyes

2009-10-11T22:11:00.006-04:00

You saw her when she was just a kitten, weighing in at less than 2 lbs at 6 weeks old. Look at Mabelle now!
Mabelle is officially 28" long from nose to the end of her tail. Can you believe 10" of that is tail!!!? Here current favorites toys are the water gallon tab, her felted mouse and her crocheted mouse I just made her today. It has obviously already taken a beating!

Weekly Featured Seller: AmJewels

2009-10-10T08:00:00.001-04:00

AmJewels makes some amazing jewelry. Check it out.

A Short Interview with AmJewels

Tell us a little about yourself and your shop.

So first things first, my name is Alicia Stemper and I currently live in Atlanta, Georgia but I am a wholesome Midwestern girl from Minnesota. I have always been interested in fashion and jewelry design, but my full-time career is in advertising. Jewelry designing has always been close to my heart as my grandpa used to design his own pieces. He had the talent to do everything from mining the stones, polishing and cutting them, and putting them in the setting. He was the one who initially gave me inspiration to start designing my own pieces.

I love creating simple, yet stunning designs that are versatile enough to wear everyday or for a fancy night out! I like to call it "hand-made couture" :) I like to think my pieces are eye catching, fun and flirty. I am also getting into creating bridal and bridesmaid pieces upon request. I craft my pieces in gold fill and plate, sterling silver, gemstones and crystals.

Name a few of your favorite Etsy shops.

Here are a few of my favorite etsy shops:
Joannna Rutter
Terri Taylor Design
Feltmeup Designs

What song/book best describes YOU?

I am often all over the place, so I don't feel that one book or song could describe me. I'm a pretty happy person, so I would say any song that is a little different with a fun beat is something that describes me best - I love acting silly, singing in the car or dancing. Right now Walter Meego is the most played on my ipod.

What's your favorite item that you've ever made?

My favorite item that I've ever made is the pink agate cluster bracelet in my shop now. The color of these stones is so pretty!

Do you sell items on any other websites or stores?

Nope, Etsy is the only place I sell right now. Perhaps if this gig takes off, I may try to start selling on consignment at some local boutiques.

What is your daily Etsy routine?

Etsy is something I keep up on my computer all day. I am always refreshing and checking for any new conversations, I like to be prompt with all responses and usually try to ship same day with all sales. I also love the Etsy community and often hang out in the forums to get inspiration from other sellers and make some new friends :)

Well, Hello

2009-10-03T20:56:00.004-04:00

Well, I have been quite absent minded lately. Maybe there's just a lot going on around here lately. October is proving itself to be a challenging month for me - and it just began! Well October, I think I'm ready for you.

I'm decorating for fall at home.
Planning a scary Halloween
Preparing for a lot of stressful doctors appointments
Having crafters-block lol.
Getting ready for some interviews.
I'm planning a pink October showcase on the blog for Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

Soo much more.. I just can't think.

In the mean time, my headbands are doing fairly well in my shop. And lately this is what I've made:

Weekly Featured Seller: FyberKnitics

2009-10-03T08:00:00.005-04:00

Check out this week's featured seller FyberKnitics! She makes a variety of felted and knit items as well as some jewelry!

A Short Interview With FyberKnitics

Tell us a little about yourself and your shop.

My name is Donna and I live with my husband and Moggy in South Wales, UK.
My story is a familiar one - like many crafters my love of making began very young and one of my first memories is of a trip to the local wool shop with my mother. She started me off knitting at about 4 years of age to ‘keep me out of trouble’, for which I am eternally grateful. I went on to develop an appetite for all things crafty, enjoying a wide range of creative pursuits from pottery to papermaking. However, textiles are what really grab me and I love to make things with the combination of colour and texture that only textiles can provide. In addition to hand knitting and crochet, I enjoy creating my own designs with felt, fabric and fibres to make textile jewellery and accessories. I am a bit of a magpie and will often use buttons and found 'treasures' to embellish my work too.

I like ‘dipping my toes’ into lots of other crafts too – and can definitely relate to your blog and store name! I love to mix and match different skills and approaches too.

Although I have always made stuff, my Etsy shop is a very recent venture and I am still very much learning the ropes about selling online, and also about the Etsian community which I love. Being part of Etsy gives me a focus for my creativity and stops it being nudged down the list of priorities that every day life and work throw your way. For me, making room for your creativity is really essential for well-being and happiness, and a generally enriched life.

Do you have any sales or promotions you'd like to advertise?
I have now set up a fan page on facebook which I will be updating on a regular basis to inform customers who sign up of any news, forthcoming sales and offers etc. It’s also great to have feedback from people too.
Name a few of your favorite Etsy shops.

Wow this is a really difficult one as there are so many lovely shops out there!
I love 3FUN and find her felt work inspirational
I think Sascalia’s artwork is beautiful
And Fleur fatale’s jewelry and shop are lovely to look at

What book best describes YOU?
Alice in Wonderland and Through the Looking Glass - I love her puzzlement and curiosity for the strange world she inhabits!
What's your favorite item that you've ever made?
Usually the one I’ve just done! I’m always seeking to make something better each time. My favourite item in my shop at the moment is the ‘Cheery Rose Brooch’ which is a really simple style and always makes me smile when I see it.

Do you sell items on any other websites or stores?

I also have a store on Folksy – a UK community and marketplace for arts and crafts. I decided to open this up as it lists in GB pounds, and a lot of my friends whom I’d told about my Etsy shop were a bit put off with everything being listed in dollars. It’s a smaller community with a UK feel which offers a complimentary alternative to Etsy.

What is your daily Etsy routine?
I don’t have a routine as such – I’m still very new to it and so try out different strategies with regards to listing, relisting etc. I tend to check in first thing in the morning before work (I have a day job!) and look at google analytics – not that this makes much sense to me yet tho!. And I have another quick check in the evenings. It’s quite addictive as there are so many things of interest on the site, not least of all the fabulous work of so many talented people. I’m still learning about the different resources and features, including the treasury lists – and today must be my lucky day as I am listed, for the very first time, in not 1 but 2 treasuries!:

'Woolly Wonders' by kittykent
'Chocolate bliss for a blue mood' by riricreations

Aside from creating items for your shops, what is your favorite pastime?
I love knitting, crochet and felting a LOT so that tends to be a primary focus – though I also like gardening, cooking a meal for an evening in with good friends, walks on the beach near where I live, listening to music and spending time with my lovely husband and cat.

Who taught you to crochet/knit?
My Mum taught me to knit when I was very young – she is such a resourceful lady who can make something out of nothing! She also taught me crochet and sewing, and then I have taught myself a lot over the years to develop my skills with the help of an extensive craft library. I used to create and make clothes for my dollies, and then for myself right into teenage years. I guess I got kind of busy with other things for a while, but then rediscovered my passion about 7 years ago. I also do some freelance work as a workshop tutor/design consultant for Rowan Yarns which has really helped me to extend and fine tune my skills – there’s nothing like teaching a subject to learn it, and it is such a buzz to share skills and your passion with others!

Weekly Featured Seller: CapturingCreativity

2009-09-26T08:00:00.005-04:00

CapturingCreativity is run by Kerry. The shop includes handmade cards and card making kits, scrapbooking materials, and all occasion handmade gift bags.

A Short Interview With Capturing Creativity

Tell us a little about yourself and your shop.
I am a stay at home mom of two wonderful boys and I have a passion for crafting. I first started scrapbooking 7 years ago and quickly found a love for card making as well. I opened my shop in May and have enjoyed every minute of it! I think that these days we sometimes get so ‘busy’ and communicate so much electronically that we often forget how meaningful sending a card can be. So, I hope my shop encourages people to send cards to their loved ones and document special memories in scrapbook albums too!

Do you have any sales or promotions you'd like to advertise?
I would like to offer your blog readers a special offer of 10% off any purchase (not including shipping). Please enter the code ‘blog special’ in the message to seller box. You can then wait for a revised invoice or go ahead and pay and I will refund the 10% to your Paypal account. This offer is valid from now until Sunday, October 11th.

Name a few of your favorite Etsy shops. (Provide links)
I just got an adorable owl from Vivikas Toy Art
Even though I don’t wear much jewelry, I really love all the necklaces in Lulu Bug Jewelry
And I think Jellybean’s tree prints are fabulous and fun
What's your favorite item that you've ever made?

My favorite item in my shop is my Card Making Kit for Kids. Prior to having children of my own I was a counselor and teacher. I am passionate about encouraging children’s creativity and so I am excited to sell an item that will foster that.
Girl kit
Boy kit
What is your daily Etsy routine?

I usually check my email & shop each morning and respond to any convos or purchases. When I have time during the day, I either work on a new item or do some promoting. I try to list 2 or 3 new items each week.

Aside from creating items for your shops, what is your favorite pastime?

I enjoy reading and just spending quality time with my family.

What inspires your designs?

I am often inspired by colors, the great products I am working with, or different design trends. I also get inspired by everyday things like a picture in a magazine or some of the great items on Etsy!

Weekly Featured Seller: Vidrio

2009-09-19T08:00:00.001-04:00

Here is a video Vidrio put together of their work.

A Short Interview with Vidrio

Tell us a little about yourself.

Haha I am always bad at talking about myself. Well I am a 26 year old glass artist. I live in Orange County California with my Husband, cat, dog and two turtles. I quit my job 3 years ago so that I can focus on my art and do it full time. It's been a long and hard road at times but I love glass and I will keep working to make it.

What item of yours have you liked the best?

I really love a piece that is pretty recent to my shop. It is called Stranger. It is part of my Narcotic Art Series. I am exploring the idea that people are drawn to things we know will hurt us. Here is the link to Stranger.

When and why did you begin offering items for sale on Etsy?
I started selling on Etsy in May of 2007 because I was looking for a place that valued artists. I had first heard about Etsy in a myspace group. Someone there was thinking about selling on here so I checked it out. I fell in love and opened shop the next day.

Do you sell items on any other websites or stores?
I do not currently sell on any other sites. I do plan listing on www.designstyleguide.net over the summer. I am part of the Design Style Guide Team and I'm really happy with the site that they have made.
Blog
Flicker
Twitter

What is your daily Etsy routine?
My routine is pretty simple. I wake up and check etsy for convos and sales within an hour. I spend some time answering convos and maybe listing something new. Then I go to my studio and work on new pieces. I usually spend all day working on different pieces and photographing work. I tend to just take breaks and surf around etsy all day long.

What are your short and/or long term goals for your shop?
Well my main goals are get a lot more stuff listed and to get a few more price points in there. I really want to get more of my cast glass into the shop. There isn't a lot of cast glass on etsy and I think people will appreciate how beautiful it is.

Name a few of your favorite Etsy shops.

Well I love a lot of shops on etsy. But a few would be:
Spaceboyjordo
Metalmoco
Merimask
FosterWeld
ScenicArtisans

Aside from creating items for your shops, what is your favorite pastime?
I love to spend whatever spare time I have with my husband and our friends. We have people over almost every weekend for drinks and good conversation. I also love to just take a drive and explore the various art communities that surround me.

Weekly Featured Seller: MetroRetroVintage

2009-09-12T08:00:00.008-04:00

This week's featured seller is Laura of MetroRetroVintage. Her shop features a lot of stylish vintage clothing and jewelry. Enjoy!

A Short Interview with MetroRetroVintage

Tell us a little about yourself and your shop.

I’m a vintage jewelry collector, seller, and aficionado of many, many years as well as a silversmith and beader. I used to sell my own handcrafted soft toys at fairs and then took up jewelry making and collecting. I started selling online in 1994, and then when eBay came around I jumped on board in 1997.

About five years ago, my interest in vintage clothing grew, and so I’ve incorporated vintage fashions into my business and it has rapidly grown into one of my passions.

Where/How do you find such amazing vintage items?

Shhh! A dealer never gives up her secrets. ;)

Name a few of your favorite Etsy shops.

Some of my favorite shops are:

*** Catbooks1940s – who has some of the most amazing high end designer and couture vintage fashions, all beautifully presented.

*** DeniseBrain – who not only models her own vintage fashions, but provides a sense of fun and whimsy.

*** SundayandSunday – has some of the most incredible higher end vintage and Victorian jewelry, and a wonderful knowledge base.

Your shop is doing great! Any advise for newbies?

I know it's cliche, but sell what you love and love what you sell. There's nothing better than passing on items that we appreciate and understand -- whether it's a piece of vintage or an item that we've crafted with our hands.

Study is important and there really is no short-cut to “putting in the time”. Go to your library and look at old books in various disciplines. For example, if you craft jewelry, look at how classical Roman jewelry was made and wrought. If you sell vintage jewelry, check contemporary silversmith books and study construction methods. There is much cross-over between old and new, and advantageous to learn as much as possible.

Go to museums and study the antiquities -- and most importantly get out there and shop, handle, see, study, and even learn from one's mistake purchases. Consider it 'tuition' in the school of life, as there can be no better substitute to hands-on experience.

What's your favorite item that you've ever sold?

I've had many, many favorite items over the years, lol, and still miss a few ;) But here is a recent 30's Crepe Purse that I was fond of, and which has happily found a new home in Switzerland.

Do you sell items on any other websites or stores?

I closed my eBay shop in February of this year, and although I sold there since 1997, I’m exclusively at Etsy now and very happy here. I plan to list items on Market Publique this winter, but Etsy is my home base. :)

Weekly Featured Seller: Amaretto

2009-09-12T08:00:00.007-04:00

Check out Amaretto's awesomely cute card shop!

A Short Interview With Amaretto

Tell us a little about yourself and your shop.

My name is Catherine and I am a very busy thirtysomething who loves paper crafting. My favourite materials range from paper & card to ribbons & buttons, to glitter and gems. I would be lost without my trusty Cuttlebug too!

I also run a small joinery and decorating company with my partner. This, along with family life, keeps me very busy indeed. The rest of my time is either spent camping or crafting! It has even been known for me to take some crafting supplies away when camping!

Do you have any sales or promotions you'd like to advertise?

Shopping is fabulous don’t you think? So is receiving free stuff! I generally have at least one offer on in my shop at any one time and at the moment you will receive a handmade matchbook notepad with every transaction. Great (free) stuff.

Name a few of your favorite Etsy shops.

I have a few favorite shops on Etsy

I have several items from sedesigns

Such beautiful, classy jewelry items all in one store. Sadly this shop is closed at the moment, but thankfully Simonne Elizabeth can also be found on her personal website

My absolute favourite item on Etsy has to be the little Batmouse who I adopted from The House of Mouse – He is awesome!

What song/book best describes YOU?

Off the Wall by Michael Jackson. What a positive song! I love it. It reminds me that life is something you should grab by the horns, take a hold and strive for what you want. I am in the Early stages of Etsy, but who knows where it will lead? A long journey starts with a single step and as long as you work hard and have fun along the way, it will all have been worth it.

What's your favorite item that you've ever made?

I don’t really have a favourite item at the moment, but one that has made me proud is my little iPod case (http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=30332140) as it has managed to find its way into the Treasury. Proud moment!

Do you sell items on any other websites or stores?

Etsy is my main outlet at the moment because I want to try and build it up so that I have at least 100 crafting supplies and handmade cards, card kits, tags etc. in my shop all the time. I have been successful at a few local craft stalls too and this is a great source of networking. When doing craft shows or suchlike, remember you must have a business cards at the front of the table AT ALL TIMES.

What is your daily Etsy routine?

With such a busy lifestyle it is sometimes impossible to fit Etsy into every one of my days. I would say though, that I think it is a good idea to list at least one new item in your shop every day. If I don’t manage this, you can bet I will be out at work thinking up new ideas for when I arrive home! It’s a good idea to keep a notepad handy to jot down your ideas if you need to.

Aside from creating items for your shops, what is your favorite pastime?

If I’m not making a greetings card or decorating a gift tag, I will most probably be camping! I love it and I find it is a great way to clear your head and think about all those new creative projects you can undertake when you get home!

What inspires you?

The outdoors is a perfect place to be to find inspiration. I am working on an exciting new range at the moment which will include cards containing leaves, place cards with twigs… all due into my shop by September/October time. Whatever it may be that inspires you – happy crafting and happy Etsying!!!

$5 Sale

2009-09-08T17:17:00.005-04:00

Well, You asked for it! ...And here it is - the $5 Sale!
The $5 Sale is in lieu of my Birthday! Well, it's actually Sale #1 in lieu of my Birthday. From today 9/8 -9/13 you will find all of the items listed below in the "5 DOLLAR SALE" section on my shop . A whopping 37 items in total are $5 (the Key Fobs are only $4!). There is something for everyone.

This sale will included:

Headbands - variety of pre-made colors or YOUR CHOICE listing
Mug Cozies
Key Fobs ($4)
Large Eco Face Scrubbies
Washcloths
Crocheted Card Holders

OldSoulStyle

2009-09-05T17:43:00.005-04:00

Hey guys!

Check out OldSoulStyle's Blog where I am this week's featured seller! There you will find a few interview questions such as..where would I go on a shopping spree, what I would do if money was no object, and where I would take a magic bus. I had a lot of fun answering these unique questions. By visiting you may even learn of a special sale!

While you're at it check out Stephanie's awesome Etsy shop. Here are two of my favorite items from her shop.

Weekly Featured Seller: JulesEveland

2009-09-05T08:00:00.000-04:00

There's nothing I love more than a great card! Jules Eveland creates some beautiful cards and envelopes. Check out some of here work below.

Tell us a little about yourself.

My name is Julie Eveland and I live in Lincoln, Nebraska. I am 31 years old with a husband and two spoiled cats. I have been making cards for the last six years now and love ever minute of it!

Is there a story behind your love for cards?

Yes- My sister and I started out scrapbooking, and then created cards from using the paper and embellishments from our scrapbooking supplies. Once we created cards we couldn't stop and now both of us sell cards on etsy. I also love handmade cards because they are much more personal than receiving an e-card.

When and why did you begin offering items for sale on Etsy?

Most of the prices on my cards I feel are at a reasonable price- especially in comparison to handmade looking cards that you would buy at Target or Walmart. If I see that a card or card set isn't getting as much notice on Etsy, I will lower the price of that particular card.

Do you sell items on any other websites or stores?

I sell some of my cards at a Boutique here in Lincoln, Ne called "Blue Velvet", but no other online stores besides Etsy.

What is your daily Etsy routine?

I first always love to check out the fun pictures on the Etsy homepage to see if there is anything that will catch my eye. Then I will check to see if anyone has convo'd me, if I've received any sales, hearts in my shop, or more viewers. I also love to look into the treasury to see the beautiful items in the shop for sale!

What are your short and/or long term goals for your shop?

I would love to be sucessful in Etsy one day. It is really hard at this point to get viewers on a continuous basis. I would also like to create more items for my shop- such as upcycled artwork (handmade magazine bowls- bowls made from magazine pages).

Name a few of your favorite Etsy shops.

Whiskerskisses's shop- cause my cats need more spoiling ;)-
SueBeeBuzz shop- beautiful sea glass with antique key necklaces-
cloudninecreations
thestickerhut

Aside from creating items for your shops, what is your favorite pastime?

I love to read scary novels, scrapbook, take photos, and watch movies with my husband.

A New Month; A New Look

2009-09-02T23:43:00.004-04:00

Well, in honor of September...I've decided to go with a new look on my blog! Why? Well, September is special to me.

This September is...

The first September since I was 3 that I will not be attending school.
The month I a determined to finally get a Full-time job.
A month of many friends birthdays!
A recognition that fall is on it's way.
The month an Environmental information day will be held in Brussels (Belgium) (9/17).
Most on my mind -- The month I turn 23!!

Now, I just need one more vacation this summer...maybe we'll go to the shore.

BBA Abstract Art Showcase II

2009-09-02T18:52:00.005-04:00

Some great suggestions!

2009-08-31T17:36:00.004-04:00

The winners of the giveaway have been announced! They are Jen @ SewnNatural and AlteredBeauty. They will be receiving a turquoise, brown, turquoise and a Soft Black headband, respectively.

I received some really great color combinations in the giveaway comments including the turquoise and brown; pink; pink and purple; yellow and green; and red. I really loved the ideas so look for these in my shop soon!! They will only be $7 -- When all of the color combinations suggested have been completed, I will host a $5 SALE!

Just a little something to look forward to!

<3 DYT

Grecian Headband Giveaway!!

2009-08-29T17:53:00.016-04:00

Don't you just love these headbands?..Want one free??! I'm giving away 2 custom color Grecian Triple Braid Headbands to 2 random winners!!

Here's how to enter

Leave a comment here with:
1- Your Etsy shop link
2- A summary of what you sell
3- Your favorite item from my shop
4- What color headband would you like if you if win? You may choose 1-3 colors. If you choose 2 or 3 colors, please specify the order you would like the colors in.

The giveaway will end on Monday, 8/31. Two winners will be announced that afternoon/evening and contacted through your Etsy shop. I will also be posting the winners here - So be sure to check back Monday night!

I'll be using a random number generator to pick winners, so you can post more than once during the time period the giveaway is open to increase your chances!

Know someone else that would love these headbands? Tell your friends to enter also!

WINNERS:
Altered Beauty
and
Jen of SewnNatural

Weekly Featured Seller: SweetsAndHearts

2009-08-29T08:00:00.000-04:00

Sweets and hearts is a very unique shop on Etsy. You may remember Erica's former shop Erica Leigh Designs. Currently, she sells earrings, bags, clothing, and hair accessories. Here are some samples of her work!

A Short Survey with SweetsandHearts

Tell us a little about yourself.

I’m 20 years old and I go to a teeny tiny university in Burbank, CA. I’m a self-taught fashion designer, but I’m getting my degree in fashion marketing.

What item of yours do you like the best?

The Hot Pink Bow Bubble Dress

When and why did you begin offering items for sale on Etsy?

I started in 2007 and sold things under my old username, Erica Leigh Designs. I decided to sell things on Etsy because I was inspired by other DIY designers, had a lot of excess creative energy, and had heard such good things about it. I really just wanted to challenge myself and see how far I could push my work, and what kinds of designs I could make.

What is your daily Etsy routine?

List a few items, work on current projects, post on MySpace/Twitter/my blog. It’s exhausting! Trying to keep up with the marketing and crafting takes up a lot of time, but it’s worth it.

What are your short and/or long term goals for your shop?

My short term goal would be to finally make a sale! It seemed easier when I started with my first shop—maybe because Etsy was fairly new. There’s a lot of competition right now and I want to make my shop stand out. In the long term, I would like my shop to be more recognizable.

Name a few of your favorite Etsy shops.

ImYourPresent
Postlapsaria
fatallyfeminine
winterlights

Aside from creating items for your shops, what is your favorite pastime?

Shopping! I’m a huge fashion junkie and love seeing what other designers (independent + famous) come up with. It’s fun mixing handmade goods with vintage, and even mass-produced items, to create your own look.

So much to do....

2009-08-25T21:34:00.005-04:00

...So little time!

Boy has this month been tiring!! Listing new items, creating new items, cat sitting here - dog sitting there..and applying for jobs all in between.....I'm almost ready for another vacation! Well, I wish anyway.

COMING UP SOON:

**Theme Showcase
I am currently looking for THEME ideas! I'll take all ideas into consideration.

**August Giveaway
I will be giving away a headband of your color choice this week or next!! Color options will be provided.

Weekly Featured Seller: AdamsonArt

2009-08-22T08:00:00.009-04:00

This week's featured seller is Lynn Adamson of AdamsonArt who does some very beautiful original art. Her blog and flickr are an awesome mix of life and business.

A Short Interview With AdamsonArt

Tell us a little about yourself.

I was born in Sunderland, England long ago. I have been a graphic designer for most of my adult life and recently was laid off when the company I worked for was bought out by a larger one.
Now I’m focussing on my art and loving every minute.

When did you begin making pendants?

I just started making my pendants a few weeks ago. I have been trying to figure out a way to use prints of my larger works but never liked the way they turned out. It just came to me one day. My daughter is a painter and illustrator and she works quite a bit on raw wood and realized that was the answer for me too. I really enjoy cutting and sand the wood. It feels so good in your hand. Smooth and warm to the touch. Almost like a living thing. Then I get to dress it up with a little art :)

When and why did you begin offering items for sale on Etsy?

I opened my Etsy shop in November 2006. My daughter was home from art school in Portland, OR and she had opened a shop of her own. She talked me into it. I’ve been addicted ever since.

Do you sell items on any other websites or stores?

I only sell online at Etsy. I love it, it’s easy to sell as well as buy and the people are all amazing. I suppose I should try to diversify one day. I would totally love to do some wholesaleing to gift shops, boutiques or galleries when my inventory is a bit larger.

I sell locally in a gallery called City of the World. It’s a non-profit cooperative gallery and teaching facility run by public school teachers. A wonderful group and many are also Etsy sellers.

I left for a few months but I am putting my work back in this month. First Friday is a big event here where the galleries in our Arts District open up until 10pm and we have music and food in the streets. It’s a great time.

What is your daily Etsy routine?

When I get up, I make coffee, feed the dog and open up my Etsy. I like to spend an hour or so in the forums right off the bat because I’m in the west and the east coast has been at it for many hours already. I package and print my shipping labels for any sales I may have been lucky to make during the night or morning. I’m back again for another hour in the afternoon, usually around 3pm to see if anything exciting is going on and maybe a bit of chatting with my good friends whom I’ve met and become very attached to over the last 3 years.

What are your short and/or long term goals for your shop?

My short term goal is to make the next sale :). Long-term would be to expand my sales and be able to make a reasonable amount of money that would allow me to continue making my art full-time.

Name a few of your favorite Etsy shops.

Karen Demarte, wonderful metalsmith.
HempLady4u, Amazing macrame items
Paulette Insall, Wonderful painter. I learned many textural techniques by watching her video tutorials and visiting her shop regularly

Aside from creating items for your shops, what is your favorite pastime?

Reading, I’m re-reading ‘The Stand’ by Steven King for the 3rd time. I also like to swim. We put a small pool in our backyard a few years ago and I love it. I’m a walker and try to hit the park 3 or 4 times a week for a few laps. I play with my pup and cuddle with my kitties. I enjoy a good romantic comedy occasionally. I also volunteer at a nature preserve. It’s a beautiful place to share the local history and teach sustainability in the desert.

Silk Shag

2009-08-19T22:55:00.005-04:00

So, while in on a day trip to Portland while in Maine on vacation, I stopped at Mexicali Blues and purchased this really lovely Nepalese Handspun Recycled Silk Yarn. And here is what I made:

Paired with a lovely polyester lining, it is elegant, fun and One-Of-A-Kind!

Weekly Featured Seller: MysticWynd

2009-08-15T08:00:00.002-04:00

This week's featured seller is Karen from MysticWynd. She makes a variety of jewelry including earrings, necklaces, and brooches.

A Short Interview With MysticWynd

Tell us a little about yourself.

My name is Karen and I'm originally from the south side of Chicago where I spent my childhood and most of my young adulthood. I currently live in beautiful, sunny Scottsdale, AZ with my husband Al and our two dogs, Trooper and Sadie. Between my husband and I, we have 6 children (two boys and a girl each), and 4.77 grandchildren (our latest will be making his scheduled debut at the end of July!) In my previous life, I was a business analyst in the healthcare insurance industry - an industry I worked in for over 25 years! I have loved crafting since I was old enough to hold a crayon :) Over the years, I've enjoyed creating things through a variety of crafts including knitting, crocheting, needlepoint, cross stitch, embroidery, sewing, decoupage, cake decorating, floral design, sketching, sculpting, and my current passions, painting and jewelry design.

What inspires your jewelry?

Life. It's that simple. I may see a sunset, recall a moment shared with a special person, see a piece of someone else's art, read a book... you name it - if it can spark my imagination to create a vision or evoke an emotion, it probably will inspire me to turn it into a piece of jewelry!

When and why did you begin offering items for sale on Etsy?

I opened my Etsy shop on November 1, 2008. The actual date was determined by my business plan and I chose Etsy as one of two main selling venues to start my "official" business, although I am currently working on launching my very own webstore as well. Why jewelry? If you've visited my shop and read my announcement and profile, you probably already know. For anyone who hasn't - I think my opening statement in my shop probably sums it up best: We adorn ourselves to create a sense of who we are - some of us have a single style we always stick with, some use accessories to make a statement of how they feel (or want to feel) that day - be it playful, serious, romantic, powerful, vulnerable, spiritual, peaceful... I hope you can find something in my eclectic selections that appeals to your "inner self" and the inner beauty that lies within all of us!

I think jewelry is the one thing we can use to define ourselves. A pair of jeans and a knit top can go from casual (with bold and funky jewelry) to girl-next-door (with a simple pendant necklace) to dramatic (with sleek, fluid, modern metal designs or bolder steampunk themes). Jewelry can transform.

Do you sell items on any other websites or stores?

While I promote on many other websites like flickr, byhand.me, craftersbuzz,and a handful of other sites that I have made arrangements with, as well as my blog - my main venue at this point is Etsy. I do have another webstore, but I will be closing that one when my annual contract is up and launching my own website (which is currently under construction) Needless to say, I'm pretty excited about that, although it will be a bit of a deviation from just jewelry as I'm expanding to include sales of handmade crafts by a number of family, friends, and business partners, as well as some surprise offerings!

What is your daily Etsy routine?

I'm not a creature of habit, so I wouldn't say I have a routine per se... throughout the day, I make sure I stay on top of convos and e-mails, list an average of one new item and renew a listing or two. If I have made any sales, I send out acknowledgment e-mails, package the item, print a packing slip and prepare it for mailing within 24 hours.

I love to create treasuries and promote Etsy shops on my blog, and that process and planning can take as much as 2-3 hours a day on the average. In between those things and my "real life" responsibilities, I spend time researching new jewelry trends, experiment with new techniques and if it's a really productive day, manage to create a new design and actually produce it. I document my designs so that I can easily recreate them if they are not OOAK. I do my own photography and whatever photo-shopping is needed to make them look their best - on the average this can take anywhere from 30-60 minutes per item. The design description, a list of materials, and photographs of the finished products go into my business database along with my pricing.

I also spend at least 2 hours a day marketing my items, be it in the forums at Etsy, on one of the other web communities I belong to, or wherever else I have the opportunity!

What are your short and/or long term goals for your shop?

I'm looking to expand from primarily jewelry to other accessories and craft items, although I must admit, I keep watching the CPSIA developments and I've been dragging my heels a bit trying to anticipate where that is heading before I make any definite decisions.

Name a few of your favorite Etsy shops.

Wow, tough one - there are just so many great shops out there!
Art - lewfoster
Geekery - buildersstudio
Photography - honeytree
Whimsy - TheHouseOfMouse
Soap - SavonShoppe
Upcycled/recycled - IMOTIME
and last but not least Jewelry - ForTheCrossJewelry has some GORGEOUS vintage style designs.

Aside from creating items for your shops, what is your favorite pastime?

Again, tough question. I love spending time with my grandkids - it's amazing to watch them grow and learn and develop their personalities. Beyond that, anything is fair game! I love to learn, so anything that will enable me to do that is fun!

Shots from Maine

2009-08-13T19:48:00.021-04:00

Here are just SOME of the pictures I took while in Maine. I obviously can't post them all....although I would love to.
Enjoy!

Weekly Featured Seller: KimBrownDesigns

2009-08-08T08:00:00.003-04:00

Kim Brown is a stay-at-home mom and mixed-media painter.

Here are some of her super cute paintings!

A Short Interview With KimBrownDesigns

Tell us a little about yourself.

I am a SAHM to three beautiful children ages 3 years, 21 months and 7 months. They keep me busy and provide me with inspiration. I always knew I wanted to stay at home with my kids as they grew up so when my son was about 6 months old, I quit my job to be with him. I’ve always been the artsy fartsy type, ever since I can remember. Whether it be designing my own clothes, greeting cards or painting on furniture. I found my niche in painting children’s art when my son was born. I think something just turned on my creative juices then and it never stopped flowing. My husband had been urging me to open a shop on Etsy about a year ago, but I really didn’t take it seriously. After our youngest was born, I really felt the urge to express myself creatively and wanted an outlet for all that energy. It wasn’t until just a few months ago that I launched Kim Brown Designs. I am elated about the new ventures I’m taking and the many opportunities for me to grow personally as well as professionally.

What item of yours do you like the best?

I have a few favorite items but if I had to pick one, it would have to be the Princess Bling name plaque. The customer that I created that for has a daughter that is all about pink and princesses. I like personalization and putting the small details in every piece I create. When I finished that piece, my three year old and biggest fan told me it was beautiful and I was a great artist. It nearly made me cry. He and I would sometimes walk back and forth staring at a piece of work I created and he always gives me positive feedback. That’s the kind of reaction I want from the little ones receiving a name plaque from me. It gives me a warm fuzzy feeling just imagining their faces light up when they see their names embellished and adorned.

When did your interest in painting begin?

I think I was born with a paint brush. I remember getting in trouble with my parents because I would take on HUGE projects like painting murals on walls. I believe if you have a passion for something, it stays with you and if you nurture it, it will bring happiness.

When and why did you begin offering items for sale on Etsy?

I joined Etsy towards the end of March 2009 but didn’t officially open for business until April 16, 2009. I finally decided to take my husband’s advice seriously and thought I could do this and maybe even make a living out of it someday. I think since I’ve been a SAHM so long and focusing on keeping my family in order, I sort of lost touch with the artist in me. It was my husband who really saw potential in me and I decided to take the leap, no matter where it took me.

Do you sell items on any other websites or stores?

I currently just sell on Etsy but as my business grows, I hope to have my own website someday. Etsy just makes it so convenient as I am so busy with my family.

What is your daily Etsy routine?

With having three small children to look after, I get as much done as possible between mealtimes and naptimes. Most of my work is done in the heart of my home, my kitchen island after my husband and the kids are in bed for the night. I turn on the ipod, take out my sketch book and let it loose sort of speak.
When I have ideas, it usually doesn’t take me long to create so I’m grateful for that.

What are your short and/or long term goals for your shop?

I’d like to add more to my shop, take better photographs and learn the ins and outs of having an online business. My long term goals include making a living with my art. I know it’s competitive but I feel optimistic in my endeavors and if it turns out I can’t make a living out of it, at least I’m feeding my passion and having fun creating.

Name a few of your favorite Etsy shops.

The first time I sat down to search stuff on Etsy, I couldn’t believe how many incredibly talented people there was out there! I try to only shop on Etsy for gifts now. Some of my favorite shops include:

LittleBeaneBoutique I just love their labels! It makes my business look more professional.

VieModerne I love the hair accessories. They are so elegant and make you feel pretty and girly.

SooPDesign There are beautiful pieces in her collection. I love Japanese paper and these items are just so original.

TheCupcakeMint I’m so happy that I can buy pretty vegan cupcakes that also look delicious. My kids have allergies and to find this shop on Etsy just made my year almost. Then I dreamed about eating about a dozen of them.

PatsyMole Patsy’s cards are so beautiful. It’s art. I would be honored to receive one of those cards in the mail. It’s something you would frame and hang on a wall.

Aside from creating items for your shops, what is your favorite pastime?

I absolutely love to cook and bake. Sometimes when I am in my kitchen preparing a meal, I pretend I have my own cooking show! I’ve been known to bring my neighbors a meal or two and baked goods when I am on a cooking rampage.

BBA Abstract Art Showcase

2009-08-04T11:07:00.008-04:00