Cool stuff on Etsy.com

It's time for.. Advent Calendars

2009-11-29T21:19:00.002-07:00

I have a fond place in my heart for Advent Calendars, mostly because as a child I had a *thing* for thins you could *open* If you don't know, an Advent Calendar is a calendar that counts down the 25 days until Christmas (Yes, this will be a Christmas-centric post, but I promise I'll try to do something up for those of us who don't celebrate that particular holday). Each day, you "open" the little door and usually inside you will find a "treat" of some sort. This can vary a lot. There are chocolate Advent Calendars, there are calendars that just have a little saying or something inside. Today I'm going to highlight a few handmade ones from Etsy (of course!).

Drawered Advent Calendar from DapperDoo
This type is one of my favorites; it's pretty permanent, but it has plenty of space so that each year someone fills each drawer with a little treat, and then each day it gets opened. Now it's obviously not much fun if you're doing this alone, but if you've got kids this is a great way to really ramp up the excitement for Christmas.

Muffin Tin Advent Calendar from keepsakesbykristi
Another one you can fill with cute things- and this one is kind of ingenious. It's a muffin tin with magnetic numbers over it. If you are crafty, this one would also be pretty easy to create. I see this kind of thing and think "Wow, that would have been great to make for 4-H"

Nativity Calendar from grammajssewcottage
I gotta say- I am *not* religious at all but even I think this one is adorable. As the days count down, you fill up the nativity scene with the stick on pieces, until finally on Christmas day it is complete. It's obviously pretty well made and all around just adorable.

Scrapbook-Style Advent Calendar from MomsPeace
Wow. Just WOW. It's gorgeous- and as MomsPeace suggests, you can fill each tin with an "activity" which to me is just begging to work on the Christmas scrapbook pages. If you're into scrapbooking this seems perfect- you could put charms, paper punches, etc. inside and by time Christmas rolled around you'd be all set to just put the pictures on the wonderful pages you created- whether as a couple or as a family. I love it.

Holiday Feature

2009-11-28T19:27:00.001-07:00

Just a quick post to let you know what's in store between now and the big day, I mean CHRISTMAS.

I'm hoping to try to get in a post at least every other day with a mini gift guide- What to give a knitter, what to give a friend, boyfriend, mother in law.. etc. Remember, Etsy has even more ways to search around for this kind of stuff, but I'm hoping I can highlight just a few really cool things I find on my way. I'm going to *attempt* to not just pick things that appeal to my aesthetic, but you know how that goes.

That said, if anyone reading has shops they particularly like or items they'd like me to consider featuring, feel free to let me know! Remember, I like to post up eyecandy so make sure any things you suggest have nicely put together photos and are clear enough for me to see.

Guilty as Charged + A Featured Seller!

2009-11-28T18:57:00.005-07:00

I haven't really posted any "review" type posts of things I have bought from Etsy lately, for one simple reason: I haven't bought anything from Etsy lately. The last thing I purchased was in the spring, I believe, and was a sMOOchy Skin Bar from GudonyaToo. Yes, I'm addicted, etc etc. But for various reasons I've curbed my consumption quite a bit. HOWEVER, it's HOLIDAY SEASON, and that means it is time for me to loosen the purse-strings a little bit and get in the spirit. For now, though, I'm going to show you a few things I got from sleepingelf, or as she is known in the Asian Ball Jointed Doll community, Tinybear.

Here are some photos from her shop (Mine aren't all safe for work, so I'll be linking to them at the end of the post.):

Bracken Fullset (sold)

BonBon Fullset (Sold)

Mohair Blythe Wig

Wow, right? She's an artist from the UK who makes absolutely GORGEOUS wigs from pelts (They are definitely the "big hair" look but so realistic past that), and has designed a line of gorgeous tiny dolls (Most are under 10" tall) that are produced in resin by a wonderful company. They come in several skin tones and yes, they're pricey, but if you are an ABJD collector you're used to that. And they're little pieces of heaven. Here are some of the ones I have..

Mina, wearing "Bratz" clothing. This was my first.

The only picture I have of all three of them clothed; The short ones are from sleepingelf.

Coco and Bon Bon, the "Fat Fairies" Warning: This picture has realistically blushed naked dollies. Don't click if this will cause a problem for you.

Anyway, I know these aren't everyone's thing, but I can say for certain: sleepingelf is a great store to purchase from (either on Etsy or off) and Carrie has absolutely amazing customer service and is probably one of the sweetest (and most talented) women on this planet. So if you have *any* desire to get one of her little beauties or one of her gorgeous wigs (which I've found to be hands-down the *best* fur wigs you can find due to her amazingly high-quality materials), or even one of the different miniatures she crafts from time to time (she got her start with teddy bears), then definitely do. Run, don't walk. Amazing.

Thanksgiving Treats

2009-11-24T21:07:00.004-07:00

Here in the US, Thanksgiving will be upon us in the next couple days and I know that I, for one, have got turkey on the mind. This is the holiday to eat good food, get sleepy, and probably watch a parade or football game. Me? I'm thinking of getting pizza on Wednesday and then we're going a bit avant garde on the Thanksgiving Dinner front- we're letting our local grocery store "cater" it for us. Takes off the stress of getting up early to prepare a bird! But enough about me, let's see what we've got for you this time around...

Pumpkin Spice Cake Truffles by lollidreams
I have to admit, I'm not usually one who would consider buying anything edible from Etsy, and it's not even that I'm worried about cleanliness (I'm less cautious than I should be on that front, probably). I'm just a little weirded out still buying FOOD online. However, these gorgeous little truffles are something that looks good enough to send me over the edge. I'm a sucker for food that is pretty, and these certainly are.

Merino/Cashmere Sock Yarn by Valutree
It's sock yarn, and it's autumnal. Merino and Cashmere? You'd be walking on air. That simple.

Country Pumpkin Pie Soap by BubblesUpByBethieB
Pumpkin Pie is a mainstay of Thanksgiving Dinner- even if you don't care for it, you'll still find it at the table. I prefer apple but I love the smell of pumpkin pie- this soap looks divine.

Turkey Bot by boldsandbots
Okay, so when people think of Thanksgiving-related stuff, you probably think of the previous things I mentioned- food, food-scented bath and body items, and fall-colored fibers. What you don't think of is an adorable little polymer clay robot turkey who is sure to steal your heart. He's only 1" tall, but that makes it all the more amazing that he's so adorable and detailed. I think I would want to make a necklace out of him!

Bath Bomb Mania

2009-11-18T00:15:00.002-07:00

I'm finally living in a house with a bathtub, and though I generally prefer to take showers I am relishing the fact that I can take a bubble bath if I want, or use *gasp* Bath Bombs. Bath Bombs: So named because when you drop them in the tub they EXPLODE into a froth of scent and fizz. As such I've been trolling Etsy for things to add to my shopping/Christmas list. Here are a few of my favorites.

Peppermint Frost Bath Bomb by hogwash

If you know anything about me, it's that I adore peppermint. These are pretty simple- peppermint bath bombs, promising lots of minty scent. I can't vouch for whether they live up to it or not- but they sure look yummy.

Bath Cupcake by CandiedBeauty

These pretty bath cupcakes aren't just nice to look at- they're also vegetarian and cruelty free, which is a big plus for any animal lovers out there. CandiedBeauty also has some great gift sets, like this gorgeous little number. Looks good enough to eat- but it's for your bath!

PS: If you are into cupcakes but none of the ones that CandiedBeauty has strike your fancy, just search for cupcakes- there are oodles of different types.

Set of 6 Fizzy Bath Melts by mmmmhandmadesoap

If you're anything like me, you might find it tiresome not only to pick out a single scent to order, but also wading through all the separate listings; This set is great because you get to pick different scents, and get it all in one listing (which I think is a big plus!). And the presentation can't be beat- this would be a great gift, too.

Cookies n Cream Bath Fizzy by Layla

Doesn't this sound amazing? Of course I always run into the same problem whenever I have things that smell like food- I end up hungry! This is especially true for anything chocolate, but this might just be worth the craving.

If none of this struck your fancy, don't worry. There are literally hundreds of different things you can get on Etsy that fall into the "bath bomb" category, and many are far more reasonably priced than, say, the ever-popular LUSH. And some of them look good enough to eat!

What's this? A POST

2009-11-09T18:52:00.004-07:00

That's right, I'm back. Ish. I'm not making promises, but I am going to leave you with a nice photo feature post because I think we could all use a little eye candy. The economy's going down the tubes but DIY is alive and well and Etsy is just getting bigger. No theme, let's just see some things I've been oggling.

Fingerprint Ring from chrisparry

Okay seriously, what more can I say about this baby? It's gorgeous, it's romantic (Could you imagine having that as a wedding band?) and it's a great idea. Yum!

Steampunk Necklace from asecondtime

Steampunk seems to be gaining some momentum lately in the alternative circles, and this necklace is just gorgeous. I think it's probably not strictly steampunk, but it's got sparkle and it incorporates steampunk elements so I'm counting it as a win. Gorge!

SNES Cartridge External Hard Drive from 8BitMemory

What? That's enough to give anyone a geek-gasm. I love this trend of putting data storage in a cool shell- I have a Sims 3 USB drive that I adore and I think stuff like this is fab.

Now that I'm Back in school..

2008-01-21T18:21:00.000-07:00

I've got more time to spend procrastinating (I run out of things to do online because I spend so much time there).

So, do you want to know what time it is? It is REVIEW time! As you may know, one of my favorite Etsy stores, Gudonya closed some time ago. Deb had emailed me right after I made an order to let me know, and let's just say I was devastated. I thought "Oh god, where am I going to get my lip smoothies?"

THANKFULLY, though, Deb didn't leave me all alone like I thought she would. She trained up the new owners and they started Gudonya Too. Now, I really have to say I wasn't sure if the new kid would be as good as the original. I mean, there had to be some doubts, right? We'll all admit it- even training from the master won't always mean that you're as good.

Well, let's just say I ran out of Lip Smoothies and knew I had to find out. I put in an order. And..

Thankfully Gudonya Too is just as good as the original, and even better- they are adding all sorts of new products that have never appeared before. Like Shampoo. There's also lots more non-floap soaps (Don't get me wrong- I love me some floap, but I'm also a fan of soap that doesn't seem to go QUITE so quick- floap goes quick!) and lots of other fun stuff. One of my current favorites is the Oats n Ice bar. You know I love the peppermint, right? TINGLE!

So if you loved the original Gudonya, or are just looking for some really good bath and body suppliers.. head over to Gudonya Too. They've got the same great customer service and the same awesome products.

Now, onto some administrative stuff. This is going to be the first and last time I will say anything about this because I don't like to be pushy, but you may have noticed a small PayPal donation button over on the left-hand side of the blog. As you may or may not know, I'm in grad school now and this means that I'm broke double broke, so if you've got a few extra dollars you can spare to keep me living, please donate. If you don't, I won't hate you, but if you do I'd really appreciate any help I can get.

I hate asking for handouts, but as a person who often donates to others in need, I figure I have to be able to suck up my pride and take what help I can get. So like I said, I won't say anything more- but the donate button will stay there. If you've got something you can give, please do. Also, keep in mind that it IS paypal so anything under $2 probably won't be worth the time once the fees are taken out. Alternatively, if you would like to get something for your money, head over to my shop- I can do custom knitting and crocheting.

And if you can't do any of this, just remember that I am happy you're a reader. Thanks :)

New Years Eve Goodness

2007-12-31T13:14:00.000-07:00

Well, in just one week I will be leaving my life in Montana to go back "Home" to New York. Hopefully I will never have to come back to Montana again. But we'll see.

In honor of New Years' Eve.. I give you the following.

Rainbow Love Bracelet from phranne

Maine Coone Print from OnlyPencil

Love at the Disco Pendant from Sojourn Curiosities

Custom Pencil Urchin from Jen Maestre

There's not much to say about these fun little things, but enjoy. I got 1 Christmas present from Etsy- a lovely pendant from Sojourn Curiosities from my fiance. Lovely stuff.

Uh oh.. new wedding ring candidate?

2007-12-05T11:17:00.000-07:00

As you might remember, last year for Christmas I got my fiance and I these rings from Kathryn Riechert. I adore them, but Jeremy's not happy about the fact that the engraving is so public. I might've found a solution..

Edge-Engraved Stackable Rings by Delia's Studio

Now, even if I don't get these.. they're definitely worth checking out. They're really sweet!

Back for the Holidays

2007-12-04T12:46:00.000-07:00

Phew! I know I've been really bad about updating, but now that I'm going back to CORNELL this spring I'll probably have tons more time to procrastinate and post on here. But.. Christmas is coming up. Before I show off some of the awesome things I've found, let me direct you over to the Etsy Gift Guides. Tons of great stuff to troll through. But we know what you really wanna see.. my favorites for the season! (and if you're looking to find some of your own favorites, seriously- hang out in the chat rooms- there's always good stuff being thrown around in there)

Viking Circle Pendant from Shy Violet
Okay, okay.. I know I shouldn't be putting so much knitting stuff on here but honestly, it's pretty, isn't it? And a steal at $30! You better snatch it before I do ;-)

Pearly Tree Necklace from Beads in the Belfry
Ok, this one has been sold. But she can make you a custom one. The only reason I haven't taken advantage myself is that the possibilities are absolutely endless. Would I want it just like this one, or do I want it in green and gold and bronze shades, or maybe deep red shades, or even rainbow?! Or do I want delicate silvery crystals.. who knows!

Eyeball Pincushions from Schmaltzy Crafts
She only has some custom eyeballs listed at the time of posting, but verybigjen makes these adorably loveable pincushions that are also, well, just a tad creepy. I love them. If eyeballs aren't your thing, check out the rest of her shop.

Now if you've been paying attention at Etsy, you may know that my all time favorite shop, Gudonya, has retired! Noooooo!!!

But never fear- GudonyaToo is in training with Deb herself and everything's still there. I love the new look- everything's very vibrantly colored, and though I can't vouch yet for the quality of their product I'm positive that Deb will make sure they're just as good as she was. Check it out!

Long time No See

2007-06-03T23:06:00.000-07:00

Knitting Messenger Bag

Long time no see, people! I've found something perfect for knitters. I'll be honest with you- I dislike all the 'designer' knitting bags that have come out. They aren't really all that much different from regular bags (with a couple exceptions) and they tend to be very overpriced, in my humble opinion. But I'm not a fan of designer labels. I don't think the name matters.

That's why this bag. It's got everything a knitter needs all built in, and it isn't overpriced (not everyone will want to drop $45 for a bag but, hey, some people are willing to drop $1000, so I think getting a handmade, quality product outweighs the price). On top of this it's a very practical messenger bag design, with a roomy inside. What more could a knitter want?

A quick Gush

2006-12-17T18:41:00.000-07:00

Another order from Cover to Cover. How can you not love it?

Featured Item: Vintage-Look Necklace

2006-12-11T18:54:00.000-07:00

There's a new seller I've noticed, and her necklace and other wonderful jewelry just amazes me. I don't know where she finds her great findings but the stuff she makes is just soo lovely. And the jewels.. so pretty and colorful.

Featured Item: Fade From Rainbow Sock Yarn

2006-12-07T15:39:00.000-07:00

I know, I know, you're sick of rainbows. But Seriously, probably THE BEST rainbow yarn is right here at etsy, and the best part is that you can also get a custom made yarn from the seller! So even if you don't like rainbows, this person does great work. The fades are incredible, and I simply love it. My rainbow yarn came today and the wool is nice, not particularly special but when is it ever? The colors are what make this yarn, and I highly recommend it. The seller is awesome! I'll be sure to update you guys with sock pics once I make them.

Dry Winter Skin Solutions

2006-12-03T12:49:00.000-07:00

I am having this problem, and I know a lot of YOU are having this problem too. Unless you're lucky enough to live in the southern hemisphere, or a hot, humid place, a lot of you are probably suffering from dry winter skin- be it severe like my fiance's mothers, or moderately annoying like mine, or even just a little dry. I've spent the last week trying to figure out what to do about my own winter dry skin and have also been drooling over the great selection of handmade bath and body items on Etsy, thinking about what will finally free me from my winter dry skin problem. Here's a step by step "Guide" to better skin using products straight from Etsy!

First, you gotta get rid of the dead skin, plain and simple. I've been really digging the look of this sugar scrub by Althea Saps because it boasts the claim that it doesn't separate like other oily scrubs. The bonus of scrubs like this is that they usually include an oil, which is really one of the most essential things you need to get your skin feeling good again- your body's natural layer of "sebum," the stuff that keeps your skin lubed- gets depleted seriously in dry weather, so you want to try to replenish that! If you're more of a do-it-yourself type, you can even make your own sugar scrub, but of course I always advocate buying it from Etsy.

The next step, the first to actually getting the moisture back in your skin, as I read in an online article, is to try to get the oils back into your skin. What better way to do this than by using these butter beans from the Vintage Body Spa. I received a sample of these in the super-posh Little Black Box and I haven't been able to use them since I only have a shower, but after dissolving one in a sinkful of water to experiment, they are wonderful. Best way to use them? Let yourself soak in the water for about 10 minutes, THEN drop in the butter beans. This'll "plump" your skin with water and allow the oils to absorb better.

What next? Well, you wanna moisturize. The biggest thing I've seen in all my research and struggles to find ways to make my skin better is to stay away from anything commercially produced that contains any kind of alcohol- this will dry you out in the long run. The other thing i've noticed is that natural plant fats like shea butter and cocoa butter are KING at not only keeping your skin moist, but they also supposedly speed healing and help with 'problems' like stretch marks and other skin blemishes. Thats where this great whipped shea butter comes in. SudsMuffin has a great line, but this is probably the one that attracts me most. It comes in three scents and is nothing but pure, natural, GOOD shea butter. The peppermint/tea tree combo would be excellent for sore, cracked, winter feet.

What about locking in all that moisture? Well, shea butter will do a good job but I like to have something that I can take with me on the go, something that provides a pretty good coating to keep my skin protected. These vegan lotion bars are the perfect answer. I have loved lotion bars for nearly a year now, and I have found a lot of good ones on Etsy. These look especially promising.

You know what the WORST thing for me is in the winter? Its having to wash my hands. My hands get SERIOUSLY dried out, even with all the moisturizing I do, such that I have to literally slather myself with the shea butter EVERY TIME I wash my hands. Well, THIS SOAP is just what you need, especially if you wash your hands a lot. Its loaded with cocoa butter and jojoba oil, and despite the name it doesn't have any actual "Silk" in it, so its vegan, for those of you who prefer to be without the animal products. I hear it also makes GREAT shaving soap.

Fall 2006 Featured Sellers

2006-11-28T19:22:00.001-07:00

This is an archive of Featured Sellers from 2006. Please see the sidebar for more current features!

CC Jewelry
Ashabee's Creations
Young and With It
Laura's Knittage
Precious Meshes

Etsy's Growing Pains are my Own

2006-11-14T15:06:00.000-07:00

Well, not entirely, but just be aware that I'm going through the blog to fix all the entries because Etsy just launched version 2 and all the photo urls have changed.

I'll try to post some new features today too.

The Perfect Rainbow Yarn: Lavender Sheep

2006-11-02T17:47:00.000-07:00

Talk about amazing. I never thought I'd find it, really. The actual PERFECT rainbow yarn that I've dreamed about all my life. but I found it, in the colorway "Mine, Don't ToucH" by Lavender Sheep's Fiber Garden. In a supersoft merino sock yarn, this is by far the BEST yarn I've ever seen. I love it. Just ask my fiance, who snapped this pic...

He knows. He saw how excited I was. It's simply the best- and the other colorways are great, too. Vibrant, and not too dark- they are simply lovely.

Featured Seller: Duet

2006-10-26T07:47:00.000-07:00

Who is Duet? Actually, this shop is run by two ladies- Duet and Lunamom, both very talented. The Duet is an earring that is meant for more than one ear hole- like the gorgeous one shown above. And well.. Lunamom just makes awesome clay stuff. I'm featuring them today because they're good friends and both of them are amazing artists. Seriously guys.. love this stuff. Click here to view the whole collection!

August 2006 Featured Sellers

2006-10-22T16:52:00.000-07:00

Definitely Different Designs
Sun Daisy Gems
Precious Luxie
Cover to Cover
Wai Sze Designs
Twists on Wire
Clear Creations Stained Glass
Craftsman
My Olivette
Kidz Bedz
Shelly Lampshire Originals
Take off your Clothes
Snail Mail Creations
Dragon Lady Designs
StoryBlox
Maps on Leather
Chica Style

A few more Sunday Features

2006-10-22T16:39:00.000-07:00

I swear I'm going to have a real feature post with real action shots sometime, but for now, a few more cool things from Etsy.

This pocket mirror with art from IvaArt is really sweet. I'm covetting it, but of course I haven't taken the final step and clicked the "buy" button yet. I've got an ATC from her and she also sent me a pocket mirror with some of her other art on it- Gorgeous. I adore it all.

OhSoRetro is definitely something of a legend on Etsy (and other places), and for good reason- Adrienne makes freaking AWESOME stuff. Not only does she choose wonderful "retro" fabrics which make her products fun and crazy, but as you can see, the workmanship on this and her other products is impeccable. That's what separates her from the rest. I have a card holder from her, and you should expect more action shots and gushing in the future from me- I'm just like that.

Just a little something for halloween from our favorite chainmaille artist, Sinister. What better way to celebrate than with properly colored earrings?

A Lengthy Blog in which I feature Many things

2006-10-21T12:32:00.000-07:00

So, first off, big apology. I can't make any promises that I'll be more regular from today forward but I am certainly going to try. In addition to this post, be sure to check out the first installment in my series, "Etsy's Best."

This awesome yarn is from one of my favorite yarn sellers. Rita doesn't just spin wonderful tussah silk and other natural yarns- she also plays the harp and sings- I bet if you ask really nicely she'll let you purchase a signed copy of her cd full of lovely harp music and singing. Look for a full-length feature of the yarns I've purchased- once I use them to make something incredible. I'm a big fan of her mLee line of yarns- inspired by the great paintings of Marissa Swinghammer.

Speaking of mLee, isn't this print to die for? Marissa has been a featured seller on Etsy and is one of my favorite people on Etsy ever. It occurs to me that I say that a lot but I have a lot of favorite people, and Marissa is one I love- I have purchased 3 of her prints so you should be expecting another full length feature later on as well- once I have them hung on the wall.

I don't know Three, Five, Eighty-Five but I love these earrings- they're really fun and the colors are cool. Definitely on my christmas list, eh?

I know I rave about John Wik way too much but how can you not? He's got some great new stuff including this awesome coloring book, but he's also got a couple other new things like these chainmaille pendants and this great guitar pick necklace.

So, the promise I will make is to post at least once a week, but I hope to get used to my full-time job and be able to find time to do Etsy Features once again. Right now? I'm off to update the blog exchange links- I've gotten a ton. Ta ta everyone!

Late Theme Thursday and More: Fem Power

2006-09-30T10:01:00.000-07:00

Okay, just to clarify, this week's theme is not about rabid feminazis, but rather a celebration of femininity and freedom, an idea that came to me after I went to Planned Parenthood to get my birth control and my yearly exam.

Featured Item: Crocheted Wire Mesh Ring

2006-09-19T17:35:00.000-07:00

OK, normally I try not to feature things that are also on the front page of ETSY for the day, but this was so fabulous I could not pass up the chance to feature it today. I may have mentioned that I have a soft spot for metallic 'fabric' so this is no exception. The ring is made from oxidized silver wire and is custom made to fit your finger. Precious Meshes has a bunch of other really gorgeous crocheted wire Jewelry, so they are most definitely worth checking out!

Featured Item: Scarflette Set (its not self-promotion, I swear!)

2006-09-17T20:42:00.000-07:00

A while back, before school was out, Laura approached me and Rita about doing a coproduction scarflette set, and it was just recently finished. Due to how awesome the THREE separate scarflettes look together, they are being sold as a set and I think they are absolutely FABULOUS. Laura is one of the people I met early on in my Etsy tenure and she has always had gorgeous photos and gorgeous things to sell- but this I love. She came up with the idea, and Rita spun the yarn for the scarves themselves- I made the flowers. The idea came out so lovely that I just can't resist- I need to show you guys.

Absolutely GORGEOUS.

Featured Item: Crocheted Scarf

2006-09-16T14:44:00.000-07:00

This listing has been taken down

Today has been a "great" day. Awakening at 6:30AM, I realized that it was freezing. Then, around 8:55AM, the power decided that it did not want to grace us with its presence anymore, and thus we decided to leave for our Breakfast date early (we were meeting up with a friend from work). Thankfully, the Golden Corral was open and we were able to have a nice, hot, meal, but that does not change the simple fact... it was 28 degrees F by time we left there.

Hence, I am featuring this scarf by Ashabee's Creations, one of my friends from the Etsy Chat. As it is, I love a lot about her shop- she has cute little scarves and armwarmers and whatnot, and she takes great photos. This scarf makes me feel all warm, just like I want to on a nasty, rainy, freezing day like this.

Theme Thursday: Autumn in the Air

2006-09-14T18:33:00.000-07:00

We had our first very chilly day today, so it made me think "wow, fall is on the way," hence the theme. Again, I really really reallllly apologize that I've been neglecting the blog, I promise to try harder and I hope sincerely that my schedule will be a little better once training is over, excluding Mondays which will be the night I rehearse should I manage to ace my audition this Sunday and get into the Great Falls Symphonic Choir.

Theme Saturday and more: Circles

2006-09-09T08:37:00.000-07:00

Again, I'm terribly sorry that things are slow. Hopefully once I adjust and get on an earlier shift things will be more regular, but as it is I'm really busy with training (even though I'm bored out of my mind when I'm 'learning'), and when I finally get home at night I'm terrrrrribly tired.

Also, please, guys, go check out Totemic. I've raved about John before but he's freaking awesome and... I can't say anything more about him other than that. I guarantee you'll have an awesome experience when you shop from him and you'll love what you buy.

Lateness and Theme Thursday- Soon to Come

2006-09-08T17:32:00.000-07:00

As you may or may not know, I started a new job on Tuesday and I've been freaking exhausted (and also have lacked internet from time to time), so until I adjust to my new schedule things are probably going to be a bit slow. I'll try to make up for it this weekend with extra awesomeness but we shall see ;)

Until then, check out the treasury.

Featured Item: Feminine Choker

2006-09-06T17:46:00.000-07:00

Admittedly, this choker is a bit out of my price range and would very likely look terrible on me with my big old double chin and thick neck. But the point is- this choker and all the rest are absolutely GORGEOUS and unique pieces that are incredibly feminine and just amazing. CC Jewelry has more than chokers, but all the products have the same simple and clean beauty, perfect for any girly girl... and maybe some who aren't. Simply wonderful.

Happy Birthday, Gnome Slice

2006-09-04T09:13:00.000-07:00

Today, my fiance, Jeremy, celebrates his 25th birthday. Being cool, I, of course, bought him a card from Etsy- from one of my favorite sellers and good Red Room friends. And that's why we are featuring the Gnome Slice birthday card.

Complete with optional "Happy Birthday, Gnome Slice" on the inside. Jeremy doesn't exactly look super happy to have them but he thinks they are cheesy. I think they are pure genius, much like the rest of the stuff over at Young and With It Industries. They have a lot of great, fun, screenprinted cards- including the ever popular chicken butt design. I prefer their gnome stuff.

Theme Thursday: Amigurumi

2006-08-31T18:15:00.000-07:00

Gotta love amigurumi, don't you? If you want to learn more about what amigurumi is, here's the wikipedia article.

Featured Item: Paisley Bangle

2006-08-30T09:46:00.000-07:00

I don't think I've mentioned this, but paisley is probably my favorite type of print. I just like the shape of the.... things on it. I don't know what you call them (the teardrop shapes), but I've always been a fan of paisley and this is why I'm featuring this bracelet today. It's not only a very original idea- I mean, who would think to make a wire rendition of paisley?- but it's also really well made and very awesome looking. I love wirework, I love paisley, and I LOVE the bracelet. Chica Style has a lot of other really nice wire bracelets, which I love. Wonderful!

Featured Item: Handpainted Leather Photo Album

2006-08-29T12:30:00.000-07:00

Item no longer Listed

You really have to adore this photo album, even if you don't share the same connection with Canada that I do. Anyhow, Maps on Leather has other varieties for you, with everything from Mexico to the netherlands to entire globes, all on handpainted and hand-tooled leather, and made into wonderful photo albums.

Wouldn't these be great for travel photos?

Featured Item: Etsy PromoBlox

2006-08-27T17:46:00.000-07:00

This is for all the Etsy sellers out there- an awesome promo item that I myself am going to buy more of very soon. PromoBlox from StoryBlox. I had the opportunity to sample the PromoBlox for my shop last spring and I have to say that they are worth every penny, and a great promo item. Maybe not something you're going to hand out to everyone but they are really great, and incredibly well made. So if you want something a little more interesting than your regular old business card, definitely go for the PromoBlox.

Featured Item: Dragon Necklace

2006-08-26T18:53:00.000-07:00

This necklace has been on my favorites list for a long time, but I haven't bought it yet. Probably because it's so short and I have a big neck, but I'm quickly giving in, now that I have a ton of money coming as a birthday gift. Money I'm probably going to be using to have a gigantic Etsy blowout. But that isn't the point. This necklace is gorgeous, not because of the entire necklace- the coral chips used in the cord are just complimentary- but because of the amazing focal pendant, the pink, pearly dragon. The dragon just amazes me- made into a necklace, it's almost irresistible. There's another dragon pendant available from Dragon Lady Designs, too, this one a bit longer- this is really going to make my choice when it comes time to spend my birthday money TOUGH. I mean, I'm tempted to buy both!

PS: turns out this necklace got put on Saturday Night Special so guess who owns the pink passion dragon necklace? ME.

Again, big apologies for missed days- Life, you know? I can't promise I'll do better in the near future, but I'm certainly trying and remember that if you see something TOTALLY awesome on Etsy or if you want to draw our attention to your shop for consideration, please email us.

Theme Thursday: Etsy Craft

2006-08-24T19:03:00.000-07:00

In celebration of the announcing of the winners of the EtsyCraft Contest.

Blog Link Exchange

2006-08-23T18:31:00.000-07:00

I'm trying to do a little extra advertising through blogs, so if any of you would like to link to us, I'll gladly link back to you at the left under "blog link exchange."

you can use our banner, or you can just text link us. I'd appreciate any promotional help you can give! Email us at etsyfeatures@gmail.com to help us out and take advantage of being linked ;)

Featured Item: Green Apple Plushie

2006-08-23T11:41:00.000-07:00

How cute are these?? I was browsing a list in the Test Treasury called "An Apple A Day" and I decided that I'd show you something super cute and at the same time would share with you a random fact. Before prohibition in the 1920s, apples were mainly used to make "AppleJack" or hard cider- people did not eat them. When prohibition was adopted, this became a problem for people who had large orchards- many of which were seedling apples bought (yes bought) from "Johnny Appleseed" or John Chapman, who had bought a lot of land during his travels and grew nursery trees to sell (I suspect Johnny A wasn't quite the wholesome character we know from school). What to do? Well, the term "An apple a day keeps the doctor away" was coined, and apples were then promoted as fruit for eating, and a new era of the apple began- one in which apples were bred for red color and sweetness, rather than for cider-making.

One more random apple fact: Apples are part of probably the most important plant family to the fruit industry- the Rose family (rosaceae). Other members include pears, peaches, plums, strawberries, blackberries, apricots, almonds, raspberries, nectarines, etc.

Oh, the little things you learn in 4 years as a Plant Science major at Cornell University. ;) I'll have to try to work my random facts into the blog more often.

Dealing with Life

2006-08-20T20:04:00.000-07:00

Features will resume asap.

In the meantime, check out the Entries for the EtsyCraft contest.

Featured Item: Grid Glasses (+ Gushing)

2006-08-18T10:54:00.000-07:00

OK, I know, I know. these glasses are cheesy, and can safely say I wouldn't buy them because I could make them. But how FUN are they? HOW FUN ARE THEY? I mean, i would seriously pay the seller $5 just for coming up with the idea.. assuming he did. But that's not the point. What is more cool than a pair of glasses made from neon-colored plastic canvas? In any color you want? In different shapes? TRES CHIC! Ok, maybe not chic- maybe more of a faux pas of fashion, but they'd be great at a rave and for this rainbow-loving girl, that is what truly matters. Wanna make them cooler? Rainbow embroidery. ;)

And now, some gushing... Remember that cheesy journal I featured a little while back? Well, I finally bought it (part of my quest to make the Etsy top sellers list just by buying a ton of stuff... sort of not working now that I've started having to save up for grad school but I digress. wanna trade?

ANYWAY. I bought the journal. Yes. Yes I did.

I LOVE IT! Cover to Cover even included a cool case made from the "Reach" record that was orphaned when the case it belonged to was cut up in order to make a fantastic journal. Overall I am SO incredibly pleased with this order and the seller? I want them to come into the red room because I bet they are WAY cool.

PS: Wanna advertise?

Feel free to save this banner to your own server and link it back to http://etsyfeatures.blogspot.com. I know its not incredibly awesome or anything, but if any of you care to create a little banner for us, feel free. Just email it to us at etsyfeatures@gmail.com

Theme Thursday: Snakes (on a) Plane

2006-08-17T08:34:00.000-07:00

Featured Item: Dragon Fly

2006-08-16T16:58:00.000-07:00

The Treasury strikes again. Its having some problems and the lists get deleted fairly often right now, but once it is completely finished it's going to be totally awesome. In the meantime though, how awesome is this???? I am incredibly impressed with it- I love needle felting and I love what people on Etsy have been doing with it. I simply ADORE it. The seller, Shelly Lampshire has a few other lovely creations in her shop, and I am eagerly awaiting more while I try to resist the urge to buy the dragon. Gotta save up. ;)

Featured Item: Cat headboard for Twin Bed

2006-08-15T11:42:00.000-07:00

Sometimes I am torn between wishing I was a kid again and being unable to wait to have my own children, just so I can buy them great stuff like this. I hope I am rich when I do finally have kids, because I want them to have the cool stuff I was never able to have- like this headboard from Kidz Bedz. Isn't it awesome? I've personally always wanted a really sweet bed- my favorites being canopy beds, or something luxe like this artisan carriage bed from posh tots. Since I'll probably never be able to afford that, though, I'm happy with this great cat headboard. Kidz Bedz has some other fun headboards too, for boys or girls, including a butterfly and an airplane- can't beat that. Amazing what you can find on Etsy, isn't it?

Featured Item: Leafy Vine Earrings

2006-08-14T11:04:00.000-07:00

Guys, if you haven't already you seriously need to go check out the treasury because I am finding the most amazing stuff on there, including these great earrings. Really, how can you not absolutely ADORE these? I find that it is sometimes hard to make crocheted jewelry that doesn't look frumpy, but My Olivette seems to have succeeded with not only these earrings but also with some other great pieces in her shop. Go check her out

New Etsy Feature: Want more of what I give?

2006-08-13T20:26:00.000-07:00

The Treasury.

Etsy users can make their own lists of featured items now with the Treasury. check out the lists- they're great, just like the front page of Etsy. I've been having lots of fun with it- you all should too!

Theme... saturday? GREEN

2006-08-12T13:44:00.000-07:00

Featured Item: Maple Wood Ring

2006-08-11T19:27:00.000-07:00

First off, I'll post a late Theme Thursday later tonight- sorry for the delay. I've been busy. Now, what are we featuring today? Why, this lovely wooden ring, of course. Craftsman makes tons of these gorgeous rings. Some are simple, some are from more exotic wood, but all of them are absolutely gorgeous and very well made. Craftsman is truly that- a craftsman.

Featured Item: Stained Glass Dragon

2006-08-10T09:39:00.000-07:00

Boy, am I getting some great stuff lately. This Stained Glass Pane is just amazing. If you've ever done stained glass you know that the smaller and more curvy the pieces get, the harder it is to make. Yet this dragon turned out absolutely lovely. With 103 pieces! And look at the beautiful different glass in the background- absolutely stunning. STUNNING.

If I had $350 that didn't need to be spent on food or shelter? I'd snatch this up. It would be my next etsy purchase. Instead, I'm showing it to you in the hopes that one of you will be able to benefit from this gorgeousness. Or maybe I'll be able to buy it. And don't forget to check out the rest of the shop- all simply GORGEOUS.

Featured Item: Twisted Wire Necklace

2006-08-09T11:44:00.000-07:00

This gorgeous necklace has been on my radar since when I very first came to Etsy last March. The things I find in this shop, Twists on Wire, are, simply put, AMAZING. They're gorgeous- all the wire is hand-twisted and then put together by hand to make gorgeous spiralled designs. I love that her copper pieces look so organic, yet ornate at the same time- I could see this necklace worn with something elegant- I could literally imagine seeing this necklace on the Red Carpet with something slinky and form fitting. I just love it.

Featured Item: Light my Menorah Bustier

2006-08-08T15:14:00.000-07:00

This bustier has been affectionately named by my friend Emily and I the "JewBra." I love it. Sparkle Plenty does have plenty of sparkle aside from the JewBra, but I think this is my favorite. Not just for the colors but because I can call it JewBra. It's a very catchy name! NO, really! Emily is tempted to wear it for Purim but I don't know if she's brave enough.

"I work with adventurous women of all ages and sizes who are looking for sexy, glamorous, and outrageous bustiers" is what is posted at the top of the shop and if I ever have occasion to need a crazy hot bustier (maybe an upsized version of the JewBra) i'm definitely contacting Sparkle Plenty.

Featured Item: Green Pearl Earrings

2006-08-07T11:21:00.000-07:00

Pearls, pearls, and more pearls. I know, you're probably sick of them, but I got tipped off through email that Wai Sze existed and I immediately fell in love with this pair of soft green freshwater pearl earrings. I mean, really, how could you not just adore them? they're dainty, but at the same time they look sort of wild, and free. I love clusters- and this is a beautifully done piece. I also love how the photo was taken, on the (i assume) paper background- very pretty. Very chic. Very looovely.

Featured Item: Richard Simmons Record Cover Journal

2006-08-06T16:04:00.000-07:00

Sorry for the lack of updates. I've been absolutely miserable, but if you want to make me feel better you can go searching for the coolest thing you have seen on Etsy and email us about it.

Now, for today's feature we've got a wonderfully cheesy Record Cover Journal. Now, I'm not afraid to say- I love Richard Simmons. Really and truly- I know he's cheesy as all get-out but I think his heart is in the right place and I love him. Sure, he's got a crazy white-boy afro, and his body is fit in a very weird way, but I love him. So I love this journal- it really embodies the true spirit of Richard Simmons. REACH! Reach for it! Reach for success!!! So check out Cover to Cover and Reach for Success.

Theme Thursday: Flowers

2006-08-03T14:24:00.000-07:00

Featured Item: Rock Crystal Necklace

2006-08-02T11:50:00.000-07:00

item no longer listed

I've had my eye on this deliciously chunky necklace for some time now. Not everyone can pull off big, chunky things like this but I can (even though I don't think this necklace is quite long enough for me to pull off), and I love it. There's just something about BIG 'details' that I adore. Maybe this is something back to my love of oversizing/undersizing. Really though, who knows, right? And who CARES. This necklace is lovely- I love how raw it looks with the big chunky quartz crystals. If you like chunky, Precious Luxie has lots of great chunky necklaces besides this one. Loooove them.

July 2006 Featured Sellers

2006-08-02T10:45:00.000-07:00

KiWi Cuties
Wicked Westie Designs
The Sweetest Pea
Amigurumi Kingdom
Frenchie
From Belgium, with Love
The Pixies Did It
Moss
Lil Fish Studios
T8 Designs
Crochet Girl (Lindsay Streem)
Kate Black
The Rustic Cottage
Grizzlie Art
Mommy Makes Roses
Kung Fu Cowgirl
Lucy's Postcard Quilts
Vixen and Venus
Smeeta's Bits & Bytes
Definitely Different Designs

Featured Item: Hip Pink Pearl Earrings

2006-08-01T19:28:00.000-07:00

item no longer listed

These sexy pearl earrings are just too hot, aren't they? I think its obvious that pearls are a good thing right now and I just adore these. They are photographed beautifully and they're simply gorgeous. Sophisticated, yet a bit girly, and lovely. I adore freshwater pearls and I adore colored ones better. A winner from Sun Daisy Gems.

Featured Item: Citrine Ring

2006-07-31T12:21:00.000-07:00

This Ring, from a fairly new seller (they joined just a few days ago), is simply divne. The ring, which looks to be made completely by wire wrapping, is just gorgeous. Looks like this seller may be forthcoming with tutorials later on, and I can't wait. I've never been really into making jewelry, but wirework has always had a place in my heart.

I don't know if I'll ever be on the level where I cam make these gorgeous rings, but until then I can drool over this beautiful citrine ring and maybe even buy it for myself.

Featured Item: Mr Cumulus Brooch

2006-07-30T10:28:00.000-07:00

Ok, how freaking adorable is this brooch? I am not normally the huge "cute fan" when it comes to felt but this little guy is SOOO adorable. I can just see a rainbow flying out of him.... Rainbows! Yay!!! Smeeta, the artist who made this happy little cloud, has some other supercute felt brooches too- like this mushroom or this monkey. There's also a variety of stuff for both crafters and those of you who don't craft, but like cute stuff.

And.. I am really proud of myself right now so I'm going to take a moment to show you guys the cuteness I made this morning:
pic one pic two pic three

Saturday Day Off

2006-07-29T18:00:00.000-07:00

I'm not putting up a feature today but go check out The Sampler to see the sneak peeks of what is to come for August- Pocket and I are both in there!

June Featured Sellers

2006-07-28T11:35:00.000-07:00

I'm setting up an archive post because the side links are getting too crowded, so this post contains all featured sellers from JUNE 2006. This entry will be linked on the featured sellers menu at the left of the blog.

Pillowhead Designs
Designs by Nicci
Gudonya Soap & Spa
Unique Dsign
Crysallis Creations
Auntie Di's De-Lites
Creo Ingero
Totemic
Aoi's Art
Dolphin Daze
Hot Dog 'n' Bun
Amy's Babies
Cranky Cats/Indigo Art
Kisu Kisu

Featured Item: Soap Kabob

2006-07-28T11:23:00.000-07:00

I'm eagerly awaiting an order I made from Gudonya right now, so I'm thinking about soap and baths and body stuff... And I came across this great idea- a Soap Kabob. This great sampler from Vixen and Venus, a fairly new seller on etsy who I just noticed yesterday, looks really fun. What a cute idea and a great way to sample soap! I am a big proponent of samples when it comes to online soap shopping- I've been burned more than once buying something I thought would be delish and turned out to be disgusting.

So, buy a soap kabob and enjoy!

Theme Thursday: A Little Bit Dirty

2006-07-27T10:12:00.000-07:00

This week's theme is "A little bit dirty" so be careful when clicking on these items- they're a tiny bit dirty ;)

Featured Item: Quilted Postcard

2006-07-26T11:16:00.000-07:00

In the spirit of an etsy postcard trade i'm featuring this superawesome fabric QUILTED postcard from Lucy's Postcard Quilts. These are FABRIC postcards that you can really send in the mail! Granted, you have to use a fabric pen to write them out and it MIGHT be a good idea to practice a little first, but they're so cool who cares, right? (I asked her about stamps sticking to the fabric- the stamps stick and they STAY so no worries about that- they also cost a little more to send than your average postcard but at 39cent stamp ought to do it)

Some of my other favorites from Lucy are kitty postcards. But she has tons of other fun things, all quilted, all mailable, and all supercool.

Featured Item: Rainbow Apple Tote

2006-07-25T10:06:00.000-07:00

This great Rainbow Apple Tote by Kung Fu Cowgirl really caught my eye a few days ago and you can bet that I'd be snatching that baby up if it were at all possible. Just look at it- pretty colors, well made; definitely something I'd like to be carrying around.

This tote is currently my favorite at Kung Fu Cowgirl, but it seems she's extra talented because there's even more cool stuff in her shop. The style is fun, and maybe just a little bit childish- but who doesn't want to have accessories that express their inner child? I personally love this rainbow coin purse, and the super mario hair clips. Truly stuff that would be perfect on those days when you just want to regress back into your childhood and have some fun.

Want to see MORE cool stuff?

2006-07-24T16:20:00.000-07:00

Check out my personal wists page. My Wists is exclusively items from Etsy, so you can see even more of the stuff I think is COOL. I'll be adding things regularly so you can be sure that there'll always be something cool to look at.

Featured Item: Coffee Filter Blooms

2006-07-24T11:47:00.000-07:00

item no longer listed

You can't get more gorgeous than these roses by Cassie Mae. They are handmade from coffee filters and colored using watercolors. My coffee filter roses never looked this good! The bloom itself is 8 inches across- thats one giant rose! They may seem a bit expensive but my thought is that Cassie has actually underpriced these considerably- these are truly artisan pieces. My favorite is the Peace Rose I've shown here, but the rest of the roses in the shop are gorgeous, too.

Featured Item: Coiled Fiber Wall Art

2006-07-23T18:04:00.000-07:00

Something a little more fun and abstract for today- check out this wall hanging. How cool is it? I'd love to buy this and stick it on my wall.. when I get my own house, that is. I don't have that now, but it would still look bangin' on my wall. Silver insulation that it is. (I shall have to post photos of this later)

GrizzlieArt doesn't just sell cool wall art- they've also got a nice selection of sock monkeys, which I don't really like (sock monkeys in general) but which my fiance adores so I may also have to check out come christmastime. 'Course these aren't your regular sock monkeys- these are cool.

Featured Items x4: Weddings

2006-07-22T10:41:00.000-07:00

I'm getting married in April so I'm starting to think about what I'm going to be wearing at the wedding, what I'm going to be doing, and I want to make it a fun etsy wedding, so here are some things I'm loving right now...

First we've got these posey rings- I'm actually definitely getting these as our wedding bands. They will say "Wherever you are, I am" on the inside and outside (because it's too long to fit all on one side, hee). It's very sweet considering our background as a long-distance relationship.

These are rather lovely- I'm still not sure about pearls beacuse they have more 'negative' energy than other gemstones, according to popular spiritualist beliefs, and that was ingrained into me at a rather young age.. but they're so pretty...

Okay, so maybe I wouldn't wear the fishnets- but this is a pretty little garter, don't you think?

I'm probably NOT going to be wearing a bridal tiara but this might be nice, don't you think? Pretty prety pretty. If I attached a veil to it, i bet it would look gorgeous. Pearls really are perfect for weddings.

Theme Thursday: Cry me a River

2006-07-20T10:13:00.000-07:00

No, seriously. I'm sad. I'm crying. So are all these items:

Featured Item: Rustic Cottage Lotion Bar

2006-07-19T18:07:00.000-07:00

Well, I may have missed the boat on these great lotion bars from The Rustic Cottage but I'm hoping she brings them back. Also, I apologize for not posting yesterday- It was my fiance's day off from work, and we had to *gasp* clean! Evil! I'm also working really hard on trying to find a job so we can move out of our in-laws house so posting may be slow off and on. Don't worry though, I'm still working hard to find you awesome stuff.

Back to the lotion bars. I was participating in a "Secret Pal" gift exchange, and my secret pal sent me this great thing- a lotion bar. A lotion bar is basically a mix of beeswax, shea butter, and essential oils- it makes a great soaplike bar that you rub between your hands. It melts a little and then absorbs into your skin. It can be a little bit greasy but its really the best invention ever- totally gets rid of all messiness (though I'm a fan of whipped shea butter too, I like the mess-free appeal every once in a while).

Right now, The Rustic Cottage seems to be out of stock, but the ones I got from here are great- I prefer the unscented, but there are a few nice scents that might appeal to you. Lavender isn't bad.

Edit: Lotion Bars are now BACK IN STOCK! Yay!! So grab some now- you know you need one.

Featured Item: Time after Time Buttons

2006-07-17T12:27:00.000-07:00

Item No Longer Listed

You guys know I like buttons, right? Well, I do. I love pinback buttons. I love them in all sizes from 1 inch all the way up to 6 inches. I don't have a huge collection, but I have them and that's what matters, isn't it? Anyway, this is a set I'd really love to add to my collection. Time after Time. Kate Black is probably one of the most innovative sellers on Etsy. She's also one of the more well know etsy personalities.

Kate owns a site called Bad buttons, and boy does she ever make bad buttons. not all of them are as tame as the time after time set- She has everything from pinup girls to zombie pride, and all the gritty stuff in between. On her etsy shop she also sells notebooks made from old records and record covers, and a variety of pendants and button based ephemera- like pocket mirrors and bottle openers.

Featured Item: Summery Crocheted Earrings

2006-07-16T14:06:00.000-07:00

When I saw all of Crochet Girl's crocheted earrings, I was in love. These especially caught my eye, being hot pink and all. The reason I love these? Well, aside from them being really awesome looking, I am always excited to see when someone does a creative and non-tacky project with crochet. It is very easy for crocheted items to fall into the sort of thing you'd find at a store called "Kountry Kraft Kitchen," and while I think these "Krafts" have a place in the world and sometimes even in my house, I love when crochet finds a "hip" place to rest for a while.

Crochet earrings not your thing? Check out all of Crochet Girl's stuff. She's got crocheted flower embellishments, Crocheted beads, chokers, and over 100 other items- bound to be something that strikes your fancy. Aside from these earrings, my personal favorite is the rainbow bead earrings, which may very soon end up actually dangling from my lobes. If one of you doesn't snatch them first.

Featured Item: Flashy Necklace

2006-07-15T19:32:00.000-07:00

ITEM NO LONGER LISTED

First off, sorry for the missed posts- technical difficulties on our part. But I'm back with this.

You know what I'm a sucker for? I'm a sucker for metal mesh. Fabric made out of metal. I adore it. There's something about the awesome drape of metal made into fabric that I just can't resist, and that's why I'm thisclose to buying this great necklace from T8 Designs. While you're over at their store be sure to check out some of the other neato stuff they've got- like the clockwork jewelry or the teardrop necklace. This store is a great place for innovative jewelry design you can truly admire.

Featured Item: Amigurumi Sumo Wrestler

2006-07-12T17:34:00.000-07:00

So I saw the pattern for this cute amigurumi a few weeks ago, and of course, because I'm a crafter and a crocheter, I had to buy it. You can't get any cuter than this little guy, and since I realize that not everyone who reads the featured blog is not a crafter (or if they are, maybe they don't crochet), I figured today I'd feature the cute little guy that inspired the pattern.

I think what I like best about this little guy is his loincloth- I love embellishments on amigurumi. That's why I enjoyed jack sparrow so much- he wasn't just embellished with yarn, he had fabric and beads too. I think it's important for crafters to realize you really can mix media- a lot of times it turns out really well! But seriously- check out moss. The store may seem a little bare, but the quality of what is there is beyond anything I've seen for a long time.

Featured Item: Handmade Denim Journal

2006-07-11T13:49:00.000-07:00

So, I was puttering around, chatting with people in the red room, and trying to figure out what to feature. I've mentioned I have a ton of stuff "in the works" but nothing I can reveal just yet (I'm working on it, duh) and what do I find? This Awesomeness. I found it over at Lil Fish Studios, which looks to be a pretty new store I never noticed before. But, mainly, I'm a sucker for denim. And I'm especially a sucker for "jeans" made into other things. Combine that with my love for hardcover blank books (it's my inner desire to be a writer coming through), and you've got a winner. Something definitely worthy of being featured on a happy happy Tuesday.

Featured Item: Beads of 100 Sunrises

2006-07-10T15:45:00.000-07:00

Item no Longer Listed

In the creative spirit I'm featuring some very pretty beads I have been covetting for almost as long as I have been on Etsy. These pretty beads are based on a legend. You can find more information about this legend at The Pixies did It! The beads themselves are just absolutely gorgeous- I have no idea what I would make with them but they're so pretty I could probably just string them up and enjoy looking at them.

I could totally see a beaded curtain made from these- granted, it might get a bit pricey, but think how pretty it would be.

Featured Item: Felted Monster Luggage Tag

2006-07-09T17:07:00.000-07:00

This great luggage tag made by From Belgium with Love is one of the most adorable things I have ever seen in my life. Given current status in most airports, I would never put this cutie on my luggage- well, maybe my carry-on- but I'd much rather keep this cutie on my purse or something. Or maybe I'd just hide it away in my hoard of stuff bought from Etsy.

Don't like monsters? Check out the felt flower garlands, the little green notebook, or the Waste Paper Basket Monster Pins. From Belgium with Love has an adorable style and they use vibrant colors, which makes them a complete winner in my book!

Featured Item: "Sundown" Felted Bowl

2006-07-08T14:45:00.000-07:00

In celebration of my getting rid of my merino sock yarns by making crocheted bowls, I'm featuring this great bowl by Frenchie. Frenchie is a great frequenter of the Red Room, and she's been making these felted crocheted bowls for a while. I was going through my huge yarn stash today and deciding what on earth I was going to do with my tons of Knitpicks sock yarn. Since it's 100% wool I've decided to take a page from Frenchie's book, and make some felted bowls.

Frenchie's Shop is full of great crocheted accessories besides these really fun bowls- she makes scarves that are GREAT for those over-air-conditioned offices in the summer, along with some more heavy duty stuff for when winter comes along. Frenchie is also famous for her recycled plastic bags- she uses old grocery bags to make strips of "yarn" and then crochets great bags out of them, such as this one, which she sold (obviously because it is amazing!) Frenchie has told me personally, though, that you guys can look forward to more. So, in celebration of my felted bowl making- visit Frenchie! She's a truly inspirational woman!

Friday Theme Thursday: Pirates

2006-07-07T10:57:00.000-07:00

Featured Item: Amigurumi Jack "Sparrow"

2006-07-07T09:32:00.000-07:00

To celebrate the opening of Pirates, today we're featuring this adorable little amigurumi from Amigurumi Kingdom. Amy's Babies had a Jack Sparrow as well earlier this week, but congrats to her- someone bought it! Now.. can I just say.. how much freaking cuter can you get than this adorable little Jack "Sparrow?" I think that's my favorite part, actually. As a maker of amigurumi myself, I am very disappointed I didn't think of the idea, but I bow down to Amigurumi Kingdom when it comes to creative and cute ideas for amigurumi. They've got the embellishment thing down, and all their products are adorable. They don't just sell amigurumi though- they also sell things for those of us who want something a little smaller to satiate our hunger for cuteness- like these Ipod Sprite buttons, or this Amigurumi Lollipop. They also have a non-etsy website, found here, with galleries of all their old amigurumi.

So, for those of you who can't crochet and just like the cute- go view and buy, and for those of you who crochet and love the cute- be inspired by the cuteness. I've taken some of their components into my own amigurumi making- Namely the beady black eyes and the small muzzle. Amigurumi with embroidered eyes or googly eyes just don't do it for my anymore. So, EMBRACE THE CUTE.

PS: Sorry about the lack of Theme Thursday- Hopefully we'll make it up to you later.

Featured Item: Fat Kitty

2006-07-05T11:36:00.000-07:00

This Super Cute stuffed Kitty from The Sweetest Pea is just adorable beyond words. I don't know why it is that fat people are unattractive but fat animals and fat babies are cute. I guess it doesn't matter, really, since this kitty is about the cutest thing on the planet (for today at least).

The Sweetest Pea isn't just home to this kitty, though. They are home to an assortment of cute little fat stuffed animals, like the penguin, the elephant, and the monster. Top that off with great photo composition and the adorable-ness is just too much for me to handle, so I'm going to have to stay away from the shop for the rest of the day. That doesn't mean you have to, though. Check it out!

Featured Seller: Wicked Westie

2006-07-04T12:27:00.000-07:00

Mindy, the owner of Wicked Westie Designs, is one of the very first people that I met when I first started trying to get into the 'community' of Etsy (namely, the red room). She's a fellow knitter and super cool person from the northwest, so how could I not love her?

Anyway, she had these Rainbow Jesus earrings that I really liked and that apparently caused a lot of controversy for her due to the association of rainbows with gay pride. It's pretty obvious she didn't mean anything like this- it was just a Jesus bead (super cool guy I have to admit, even though I'm not religious), and some rainbow beads. Course if you wanted to, you could call these your "Jesus is FAAAAABULOUS" earrings and take the flack. Somehow I don't think he'd mind that much. If you guys don't know by now, I adore rainbows- and jesus hanging from my ears was just too good to pass up, so after a bit of time, I finally got the earrings, and I wore them throughout my last semester at Cornell to give me luck.

I don't have as much time to wear different earrings now that I'm not in school anymore, but I still adore my little Rainbow Jesus earrings. Westie even sent me a treat with my order- mostly because she felt bad for taking 'too long' to send them out, but who refuses goodies? I highly recommend her as a seller- check out the cool stuff she's got:
Royal Sunset Necklace-Brown Cow Tank-Shelob's Web Necklace-Neckwarmer- Dark Blue-Coastal Beach Scarf

Be sure to check out her neckwarmers- they're really cool designs, and even though it's summer right now, it's never too early to think about fall, when a neckwarmer would be the perfect thing to keep you warm when it's not quite cold enough for a full scarf.

Featured Item: Punk Rock Accessory Kit

2006-07-03T09:45:00.000-07:00

This great "kit" was part of the Etsy Coproduction contest, and was put together by Ingero, Pillowhead, and Nerdbomber, two of whom have already been featured on this site but I was reminded that this supercute kit existed and I decided that since the 4th is tomorrow I can do what I want and pick something ultra-cool from my favorites.

There was a lot of great stuff for the Coproduction contest, but this was one of my favorites. I love this because it really is a bitty little 'starter kit' for any punk wannabe- and while that may go against the idea of "punk," I love it and I think everyone should have one of these kits. Patches, pins, and a cute keychain- that's really fun, and this little set, to me, seems to be like the perfect way to punk up that jacket or bag that you have lying around. Sure, you'll wanna add extra stuff later, but this is a great start. It's just fun!

Featured Item: Relax... I'm a NINJA

2006-07-02T13:22:00.000-07:00

Today we're featuring this ultra awesome Ninja Shirt from KiWi Cuties. This shirt was one of the first things I got from Etsy, before I even met KiWi in the Red Room. I got the shirt as a gift for my fiance, whom I love dearly. He really likes ninjas, monkeys, ninja monkeys, etc, though he apparently isn't as happy about pirates. Anyway, my point is, he really likes his ninja shirt.

KiWi Cuties has a great line of ninja stuff, from the Relax... Onesie to the Crouching Fabric, Hidden Ninja underwear. They also have some great stickers, buttons, and other ephemera. They are great to work with, and I love their customer service- when I bought the You Compute Me card for my fiance, they sent me an email letting me know it had shipped- saying "Your robots have been deployed." How fun!

Whats that? It's a Little Black Box!

2006-07-01T18:21:00.000-07:00

First, a blog related announcement- you can expect that the Cool Stuff blog is going to be updating later in the day due to the holiday. I'll try to update early but you know how it is, what with holidays and stuff. Hee.

Now, onto the site spotlight. This week we're looking at The Little Black Boxes, a site that is very similar to The Sampler where customers can subscribe to the "Black Boxes" and recieve a box of awesome goodies for their cash. I really love these sampler type boxes- they are a ton of fun because you get to be surprised by the goodies, and they are also a great resource for indie designers- all you invest is a few samples, which you can make as big or as small as your store dictates, and you get tons of publicity, and hopefully some new customers.

So, if you like getting grab bags (like I do) or you want to donate some samples- head over to the Little Black Box!

Also- Look for Pocket and I in the August Sampler, and I will also be in the October little black box.

Featured Item: Sushi Soap

2006-06-30T10:32:00.000-07:00

Today I'm featuring this adorable SUSHI SOAP from Kisu Kisu (which is apparently a loose translation of "Kiss Kiss"). If you haven't already noticed, I adore bath and body products- its kind of a way to treat myself. I also happen to really like sushi- well, actually, i only like crab rolls. I'm the boring sushi lover- I don't like anything remotely crunchy in my sushi, and I don't like truly raw fish, but c'est la vie. I like this soap.

This soap is sold in many different sets, and is packaged just like sushi- which makes it a great gift. You also get to pick your scent and what type of base you want for the soap- talk about custom service! These soaps? I'm looking at them for a gift for my good friend CC, my closest friend from college. Hell, I might grab a set for my other good friend from college- Milan. Either way, my Japanese-taking friends can look forward to these and other cute Japanese-type etsy gifts.

Theme Thursday: Skulls

2006-06-29T08:59:00.000-07:00

Featured Item: Cranky Cat in a Tree

2006-06-28T18:42:00.000-07:00

So, I'll admit that of late I've been having some trouble picking the features. Mostly because I have about 5 things I'm waiting to feature but, well, I have to do things- I have to frame something, I need to take photos of earrings (hard to do all by yourself!), I need to knit something... You get the idea. Anyway, before I start gushing about these cute kitties, I wanna add that I just got my earrings, just two days after I bought them, and they're completely and utterly awesome. I feel like a fangirl.

So, the Cranky Cats have been on my favorites list for a long time, and I think I'm going to end up getting a few prints as Christmas presents for my aunts, who both adore cats. I'll probably get myself one while I am at it. The prints aren't everyone's style but aren't they cute? I especially like this one because of the oversized cat on the tree- how adorable. If you didn't already gather that I like things to be out of proportion, I do, and that's why this print is my absolute favorite of them all. Others that I like? 1-2-3

How cute can you get?

Featured Item: Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club.. Bale?*

2006-06-27T16:43:00.000-07:00

Item no Longer Listed

There's a lot of cute stuff on Etsy, as we all know. But Amy's Babies has a large share of this cuteness. All her dolls are adorable, and these amigurumi turtles just take the cake. I mean, they're brilliant! What could be more adorable than actual amigurumi beatles than a bunch of amigurumi TURTLES dressed as Beatles? Definitely way cool.

So, while you're at Amy's Babies, make sure to check out the rest of her stock- she has some adorable snails and other types of dolls, and she's a really great person to work with. Definitely a top etsy personality. One of my favorites? The Military Turtle. Super cute.

*a bale is a group of turtles. Geekiness shall subside now.

It's Monday Again

2006-06-26T10:35:00.000-07:00

I don't have any fun pictures for you, so I figured I'd just blather for a bit about Etsy-related stuff and hope one of my co-bloggers comes up with someone to feature today. First off..
Awesome Etsy Sales:
Half Off on All earrings at Totemic- I snagged a pair of caged dice I've been eyeing since before I bought the coloring book.
$10 off a purchase of $60 or more at mLee original art (prints only)- I haven't featured mLee (yet *wink*) but I have bought several things from her- mostly non-art but she's got gorgeous stuff, so this is a great deal. I snagged an art card from her this morning.

other
-Remember how I wasn't quite happy with the scent of the Gudonya Baby Legs Shaving Soap? Well, they made a new scent. The jury is still out on whether it's good or not but I know for a fact that the Hibiscus floap smells good (free samples) so the Hibiscus Baby Legs Shaving Soap should be good as well.
-Remember Aoi's Art? Remember the orange Peel Good earrings? Yeah, they're mine now. They are 10x more adorable in person. I am soo amazed with the detail that goes into these minscule pieces.
-Guess who made some whipped shea butter? I did, with materials from Bramble Berry Soapmaking Supplies. Now, I'm not selling it, because it's in ziplock tupperware containers, but it came out really good and I just wanted to share my non-etsy-related excitement.

Anyhow, that's it for today but if you're looking for a fun way to check out new items go to the Etsy Time Machine 2. I compulsively check it every day and I have a lot of fun as well as find a lot of cool stuff.

ps

Etsy is in WIRED MAGAZINE, the issue that came out today. Woot.

Featured Item: Tooled Letter Cat Journal

2006-06-25T19:27:00.000-07:00

So, I was hanging out in the red room once again, as I am wont to do.. and some new people came in! Before I go into detail, let me just say that my favorite thing is when new people with awesome shops come into The Red Room. I do a lot of my shopping straight from the red room, so I adore when new people come in. Back to business though- last night this husband and wife team came in last night- and boy is their stuff ever awesome! I picked the cat journal because I love cats- but there's a lot more at Hot Dog 'n' Bun.

I know leather is not for everyone but this stuff is just lovely, and there's more than just leather binder journals. Seriously. Check them out- they deserve it.

Saturday Site Spotlight: Wickedly Chic

2006-06-24T09:49:00.000-07:00

So, due to some of the ever-popular forum drama over at Etsy, I was introduced to a totally awesome website- Wickedly Chic. Wickedly Chic has a similar goal as we do- to review products and let consumers know what kind of awesome, cool stuff there is out there. Kim, who I have been hanging out with in the Red Room, is ultra cool, and runs the site along with Liz, whom I actually met in chat last night. Both of them are extra nice gals, and they do a great job getting indie crafters to the forefront.

Wickedly Chic runs contests and publishes great articles on indie designers, with the current article being Your Summer 2006 Survival Kit, which reviews some great summer finds, including some Whipped Clean from my favorite bath and body Etsyian- Gudonya. Wickedly Chic is also offering free advertising on their "Rolodex" until September, and has very reasonable advertising rates- the site is quickly growing and it's a great resource for indie designers and those of us who love to buy from them.

In other news:
Not really self promotion persay, but some of us bloggers have signed up for The Sampler (namely me and Pocket) for August, and I'll be doing some bracelets in the October "Think Pink" (breast cancer awareness) Little Black Box. Both sampler sites are great ways to have fun and get cool samples from indie designers, so definitely check them out!

Featured Item: Starry Night Pendant

2006-06-23T08:58:00.000-07:00

Today, I'm bringing you something from my favorites. This pendant has been on my favorites at Etsy for quite some time, and someday I'll probably get around to buying it. The problem I have with this pendant is while it is gorgeous... SO ARE all the other pendants. The artist, Samantha Kocsis, has a store FULL of lovely handpainted, handsculpted pendants that are wire wrapped and absolutely gorgeous. Many of the pendants are tarot inspired or inspired by paintings (like the starry night pendant above), and they are all simply gorgeous.

When I finally do decide which pendant to buy, you can be sure I'll be back here with an action shot- but until then, I'll just have to drool.

Theme Thursday: Rainbows

2006-06-22T09:44:00.000-07:00

You may not be aware of this yet, but I dearly love rainbows. Rainbow themed front pages on Etsy are due to incessant begging on my part, so how could I NOT do a rainbow theme here?

Featured Seller: Aoi's Art Miniatures

2006-06-21T14:46:00.000-07:00

Item No Longer Listed

Today I'm featuring someone I've never had the honor of purchasing from, but who has probably the most yummy looking polymer clay charms and jewelry in the world. Aoi's Art is home to the most adorable miniature food charms that I have ever seen. Just look at that fruit tart up there. Doesn't it look delectable? Nothing looked as good in real life, and I don't think anything ever will, but that little fruit tart can give you just a little bit of calorie-free perfection.

I attribute my love of miniatures to my dearly departed mother (tangent: I'm actually obsessed with things that are tiny, and things that are regular size but have oversize details. I have a friend with a hoodie that has a HUGE oversized zipper on it and I covet that thing like I covet Aoi's orange peel earrings), but I'm not the only one in love with Aoi's stuff. And who wouldn't be? Check out these Orange Slice & Chocolate Cake Earrings. Or these Fruit Cake earrings. That's not your normal fruit cake! That's fruit cake that I would eat. The fourth of july is coming up.. why not try these Blueberry and strawberry cake earrings.

Seriously. Go. Fall in love. And then buy everything. So it stops tempting me ;)

Featured Item: Technographic Coloring Book

2006-06-20T12:41:00.000-07:00

This great coloring book from Totemic was even nicer than I could have imagined. John Wik, the creator of the coloring book, known as Totemic on etsy, is truly amazing. I am flabbergasted by his lovely pendants and caged dice earrings, and his art is just awesome. Something you need to know about me- I adore coloring. I adore coloring books- but I want something grown up! I don't want to go buy one of those silly winnie the pooh coloring books at the dollar store! I want something that's fun to color and that doesn't make me feel like a 5 year old. Up till now, I've been relying on coloring books from Dover Publishing to fill my deep desire for coloring books. When I saw Technographic, I couldn't resist. Of course, the price tag was a bit daunting for poor old me, so I put it on my favorites and waited until I had the money- then i snatched it up.

It arrived, and I attacked it with my father-in-law's colored pencils:

I'm loving it. This coloring book is simply amazing- the designs are all abstract, but very carefully made, and they are printed on super high-quality cardstock, then spiral bound for a wonderful coloring experience. The service I got from John was phenomenal, and he sent me 4 artist trading cards with his "cloud" series on them. Sure, he has high-ticket items in his shop- but I can guarantee that everything in there is worth it. I certainly know that my coloring experience has been worth MORE than the money I paid for the coloring book, and if you like to color as much as I do, you'll feel the same way.

PS: The coloring book was a limited edition, and he's only got a few copies left, so better snatch them up before they are gone.

Featured Seller: creo ingero

2006-06-19T17:49:00.000-07:00

Ingero is a jack of all trades. She's an unbelievable artist, a maker of unique jewelry, and designs beautiful bags. However, she has one item above all that I personally love and adore: her amazing lip balm.

I am trying not to eat the yumminess...

Ingero's lip balms ("99% all-natural", no petroleum byproducts or unpronounceable words here) come in both regular and vegan varieties--the vegan being made with candellila wax rather than beeswax. I've tried both, and I think I prefer the vegan variety. It costs a bit more, but the texture is smoother and I think the flavor comes through a bit better.

But what are the flavors, you ask? Oh man. My personal favorites are her crazy tea combinations, including georgia ginger green tea, which I have described as my new favorite flavor of anything--peachy and spicy and yum. For something a little less exotic, there's everything from basic peppermint to summerberry, and if you're still not satisfied, create your own set of flavors for a bit of savings!

So hop on over to ingero's shop and grab some lip balm. Because not doing so is just silly.

Hello!

2006-06-19T17:33:00.000-07:00

I'm Megan, otherwise known as Pocket or pcockey. I'm 24 and I live just outside of Cincinnati, Ohio, where I read a lot, unexpectedly breed fish, attend the University of Cincinnati as an English/history major, drive the world's ugliest car, and craft. I describe myself as an ADD crafter--I knit, make incense, make paper, work with polymer clay, and whatever else happens to catch my fancy at the moment. I run a slightly spooky Etsy shop at pcockey.etsy.com.

Featured Item: NEST I (heart) Etsy Baby Booties by Shannon

2006-06-19T10:10:00.000-07:00

So, I was hanging out in the Etsy Chat red room again, and Shannon posted a link to the booties she had made for the New England Street Team (NEST) shop. Well, how could I resist featuring these?

I don't have a lot to say about them, except that I want to see them in an adult size. I can totally see them based off the Fiber Trends Clog Pattern for adults. I might even have to make myself a pair- if Shannon doesn't beat me to it. So, got a baby that would be perfect to introduce the world to your love of etsy? Know someone who's having a kid? These booties are the best baby shower present I've seen in ages. The best part? You'll be supporting NEST with your purchase!