Handmadeaholic

Treasury: The People's Color

2011-11-27T09:00:00.003-05:00

See this treasury list on Etsy!

Etsy Treasury List's Featured Shops

FIRST ROW
eleanorjoseph - hand painted jewelry (Minneapolis, MN)
sweetknitting - handmade, timeless fashion (Izmir, Turkey)
CarolynCochrane - fine art photography prints: nature, beach, flowers (New Jersey)
Morrgan - fingerless gloves, scarves, slippers, magnets and more (Turku, Finland)

SECOND ROW
FiberFusion - unique handwoven items, felted items, and yarn (Minneapolis, St. Paul)
stephaniecorfee - Stephanie Corfee: illustrations & decorative art (Malvern, PA)
kylieparry - handmade ceramic jewelry and art beads by Kylie Perry (Wisconsin)
Briole - New Orleans photography, travel and more (St Louis, Missouri)

THIRD ROW
thewheatfield - The Wheatfield by Katie Daisy (Portland, Oregon)
Splodgepodge - original watercolors & prints by Louise DeMasi (Coffs Harbour, Australia)
mcfarlanddesigns - ethical beauty: fair trade & recycled jewelry (Arcata, California)
swiftfiberstudio - hand dyed yarn in flying colors (New Hampshire)

FOURTH ROW
beadsforever - handmade beadwork, dichroic glass, polymer clay jewelry (San Diego, CA)
JulieKnowlesPottery - handmade pottery yarn bowls, jewelry bowls, & more (Sedona)
MariaPaceWynters - mixed media paintings by Maria Pace-Wynters (Edmonton, Canada)
alidouglass - illustration, prints, original art, pillows (Asheville, North Carolina)

Treasury: Winter Blues

2011-11-26T16:39:00.004-05:00

See this treasury on Etsy!

Etsy Treasury List's Featured Shops

FIRST ROW
CarlaDyck - fine art photography by Carla Dyck (Winnipeg, Canada)
SquishySushi - eco-friendly jewelry and gifts with an Asian influence (San Francisco, California)
SevenBlooms - organic women's clothing - dresses, t-shirts, tops, skirts (New York, New York)
molMolly - original paintings, artwork prints (Gdansk, Poland)

SECOND ROW
katrinchen - paper and yarn items (Florida)
AlyTheRed - cozy up your life (Eugene, Oregon)
LeBestiaire - embroidered, painted, one off clothes ... (Paris, Ile-de-France)
SusiDjewelry - the beauty of everyday jewelry (Los Angeles)

THIRD ROW
NaderShenoudaArt - watercolor and acrylics (Cairo, Egypt)
alvant - unique hand-woven Alvant accessories with fringe (Brooklyn; NYC, Waterford, CT)
MarianneLoMonaco - original fine art photography (Barrie, Ontario)
SunnyLeeStudio - watercolor paintings, ACEO, Christmas stockings (Alexandria, VA)

FOURTH ROW
easternsky - squishy yarn goodness (Tuusula, Ulusimaa)
bellehibou - vintage inspired handmade goods and photography
spinup - spinup yarns: freestyle handspun and fiber (Flagstaff, Arizona)
PomLove - the original (tissue paper poms) on Etsy (Portland, Oregon)

Quick Pick: 2012 Pit Bull Calendar Benefiting Animal Rescues

2011-11-22T10:49:00.000-05:00

The Unexpected Pit Bull 2012 Calendar

Price: $18.99
(price per calendar decreases the more you buy)

Recommendation: Great holiday present for any dog-lover in your life! They'll enjoy the beautiful photos and you'll know that the gift you purchased benefits animals in need.

The Unexpected Pit Bull Calendar 2012, $18.99

I don't think I've done any dog-related posts yet, which I'm kind of amazed by, since I'm obsessed with my pit bull, Caramel (photo below). You know those parents who think their child is the most amazing being in the world just for breathing and carry around photos that they always want to show to people the minute the subject comes up? ... Yeah, that's me. But with my dog. *blush*

I started fostering for the Baltimore-based pit bull rescue Adopt a Homeless Animal Rescue in June 2006 and have be absolutely in love with the breed ever since.

There are a lot of great organizations that work to reduce the stigma surrounding pit bulls and try to show people how wonderful these dogs are. I didn't previously know about The Unexpected Pit Bull, but saw a post on Facebook advertising their 2012 calendar and had to find out more (I mean, come on - look at that face on the cover! How could anyone not click?!).

The organization revolves purely around putting out a new calendar edition every year in order to raise money for animal rescues. I'm very familiar with the first one, since they're at the forefront of pit bull advocacy, but was not as familiar with the others:

My adorable pit bull Caramel - cutest dog in the world!
"Dogs Can Smile Too," $10.00-$16.00 + $2.00 s&h

BAD RAP (Oakland, California) - Securing the future of the American Pit Bull Terrier as a cherished family companion
Best Friends (Kanab, Utah) - Pit Bulls: Saving America's Dog Campaign
Out of the Pits (Albany, New York) - Showcasing the true nature of the Pit Bull and its ability to perform as a therapy, sport, and working dog
PSPCA (Pennsylvania) - Pennsylvania Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals
Safe Humane Chicago (Chicago, Illinois) - Court Case Dog Program

Starting with this calendar, the organization is partnering with HeARTs Speak, a nonprofit made up of artists from around the world who are working to improve the lives of animals in need. Their photographs are the ones featured in this year's calendar and from those previewed on the site, I have to say these artists are obviously extremely talented!!

A great find and one that was automatically added to my wishlist.

"Honey," featured in The Unexpected Pit Bull's 2012 Calendar, $18.99

Pre-order today The Unexpected Pit Bull's 2012 Calendar, $18.99

Images come from The Unexpected Pit Bull and my Etsy Shop Eleventh Muse

Review Pendant Necklaces from Handy Maiden (4.5 stars)

2011-11-21T10:07:00.095-05:00

HandyMaiden.Etsy.com - hand-painted miniature sculptures and collectibles (San Diego, California)

Little owl pendant necklace

Product: "Little owl pendant necklace"
Order Date: August 15, 2011
My Total: $30.00 + $5.00 s&h
Discount: $28.00 Heartsy voucher
Artist: Danielle Pedersen

I first learned about the Handy Maiden shop through the Heartsy giveaway. I absolutely love the miniature pendants and had a hard time choosing which one I wanted to buy. I've been trying to not load up on things that have no functional use, so decided to go the wearable art route and choose one of the pendant necklaces.

There is a great amount of detail in each of the sculptures and collectibles and I can only marvel at how the artist, Danielle Pedersen, is able to do it without shaking and smudging anything. She has a wide variety of items that she offers in her Shop: miniature animal sculptures, brooches, chalkboard zoo series (adorable and very funny! see below on the left), earrings, necklaces, and more.

Verdict

Woodland wedding cake toppers - foxes, $160 + free s&h

The pendant looks just as it did in the photos - better, actually! - and arrived very quickly: I ordered it on a Monday and received it on the Saturday. It arrived very securely and safely packaged. I had asked for the chain to be shortened and it was.

+ PROS + Even prettier and more delicate-looking than in the photos. Owl pendant always faces the right way and doesn't twist around as you wear it. Very comfortable to wear, not at all heavy.

-- CONS -- Chain does turn as you wear it, so am always having to check where the clasp is and move it back so it's hidden. The price.

= BOTTOM LINE = I love the necklace and am very happy with my purchase. I wish that the pendant had been attached to a link in the chain so it didn't always twist around though; always an annoyance that I try and avoid when I purchase necklaces. It is a little pricey and I wouldn't have been able to afford it without a Heartsy voucher, however the price is fair given the quality and intricacy of the work.

Chalkboard pig figurine, $15.00 + free s&h

Shop Information

Opened: June 30, 2009
Items currently for sale: 64
Total sales: 518
Feedback: 487, 100% positive (487 positive, 0 neutral, 0 negative)

Links:
* HandyMaiden - Etsy Shop
* @HandyMaiden - Twitter
* Danielle Pedersen - Etsy Profile

NOTE: I purchased the item reviewed and am expressing my own uninfluenced opinions.

Review Eye Depuffer from Erzulie Cosmetics (5 stars)

2011-04-26T22:49:00.010-04:00

ErzulieCosmetics.Etsy.com - All Natural Mineral Cosmetics and Holistic Skincare (New England, United States)

Photo Credit: Erzulie Cosmetics

Product: "Eye Depuffer Balm Soothe (TM) All Natural Helps Puffy Eyes and Dark Circles Proven Highly Effective"
Order Date: January 31, 2011
My Total: $5.00 + $2.00 s&h

I have always had a problem with under-eye puffiness and shadows - my high school roommate used to tell me my "bags had bags." I have been on the lookout for different solutions for years and what I tried either didn't work or I didn't have the patience for - masks, lotions, cucumber slices, etc.

When I was full-on into my Etsy craze, I realized this was the perfect place to look for what might finally be the solution to my puffiness and dark circles! Imagine my surprise when my search yielded almost no results (still true) - search for anything on Etsy and you usually have to slowly wade through the massive number of products you're given, but that was not the case here.

When looking for a specific item, I like to find all the results that appeal to me and then methodically cancel them out until I'm down till one. This time, the choice was pretty much made for me. There were three sellers who had eye depuffers and while the photos for the other two were nicer - and therefore attracted me more - I'll admit that one of the main reasons I decided to try Erzulie first was because hers was significantly cheaper than the competition's.

Applying my depuffer balm!

Verdict

It works! That is, of course, as it should be, but so many times products like these do not work as advertised, so it was a wonderfully nice surprise.

I noticed a definite visible reduction in puffiness within ~6 weeks of regular application and now use it every night before I go to sleep. It also lessens the shadows under my eyes, but I would say that was secondary - does not have any color in it so there is no masking or covering up that goes on; I think the lessening of shadows is more of a side effect from the reduced puffiness.

For those people who wear makeup often (I do only about once every other month), they should stick to applying it before bed at night. I used this once in the morning and followed with an under-eye cover-up - it ended up looking odd and not drying smoothly, looking a little grainy/spotty.

+ PROS + works wonderfully: reduces puffiness, slightly reduces dark circles / shadows; has a lovely scent that is very calming and soothing as you go to sleep; easy to apply; very affordable and lasts a long time; great during the day for a refreshing pick-me up

-- CONS -- don't use with under-eye makeup

= BOTTOM LINE = Would recommend to everyone. When mine runs out I'll be buying another!

Shop Information

Opened: September 15, 2008
Items Currently for Sale: 311
Total Sales: 6,191
Feedback: 4,325 - 100% positive (4,277 positive, 44 neutral, 4 negative)

Links:
* ErzulieCosmetics - Etsy Shop
* Progress in Health and Erzulie - website
* Blog
* Facebook Page
* @naturalcosmetic - Twitter
* progressinhealth Channel - YouTube

NOTE: I purchased the item reviewed myself and am expressing my own uninfluenced opinions.

Discussion: Sellers Giving Feedback After Buyers

2011-04-15T19:22:00.002-04:00

Sweetheart Cuff Bracelet, v1 by Victoria Camp Designs

I have always been a big ratings/feedback buyer - on eBay, Amazon Marketplace, etc. - and I continued this when I started buying on Etsy.

I like to give detailed feedback so I usually wait till I have actually used/worn/whatever the item and then I try to leave review on as many aspects of the purchase as possible - shipping, packaging, customer service, etc. Especially for things like bath and body products or edibles, I know that I am always looking for more details in the feedback before I decide to buy, so I try to give the type of information that I look for myself.

It took me awhile, but I began to notice that there was a pattern developing: every time I left my feedback for the seller, they then left theirs ... and it began to really, really annoy me! When sellers only leave feedback after they receive one from the buyer, it leaves the buyer feeling as if they are being held hostage - a neutral or negative feedback might result in receiving one themselves, even if on their end they may have done everything right.

I have since become a seller myself and know that it's sometimes difficult to remember to leave feedback - especially now that Etsy has buyers pay right away, in some cases there doesn't really seem much to review.

Additionally, waiting for the buyer gives the seller the opportunity to feel like they can give an explanation for any bad review they may get. I write "feel like" because they are not tied to one another, and while you can sometimes clearly see the connection (check out this example from the doughadeer feedback and the left for others section), if enough time has passed you can't unless you dig for it.

So, what would be a good solution / compromise?

My suggestions are as follows:

1. Sellers make a concerted effort to always leave feedback once the buyer's responsibilities are done (how they were as a customer if there was convoing beforehand, prompt payment).

2. The feedback system allows for the kind of "rebuttals" you see on eBay: i.e., a seller can reply to any neutral or negative feedback they get and that would then be shown, indented, under that specific feedback.

Checklist Greeting Card by Red Letter Studio

What do YOU think?

Post your thoughts and comments below!

Treasury: Brighten Up Your Day

2011-03-28T19:53:00.000-04:00

See this Treasury on Etsy!

Etsy Treasury List's Featured Shops

First Row

going places 2 - Inspirational Dog Art Prints, Motivational Art Prints

sewZinski - Hand Embroidered Wallets and Eco-Friendly Accessories

CreaShines - Handmade Polymer Clay Jewelry, Accessories, & Housewares

LBCpaper - Handmade Paper Decor, Garlands, Greeting Cards, Goods

Second Row

Cookieletta - Handmade crochet baskets, scarfs, shawls, brooches, hats

Peony Forest - Cute and slightly geeky

Deep Indigo - Little goodies & handmade haberdashery

The Vapor Trail - Custom fine art prints

Third Row

Kettle Confections - Premium Gourmet Nougat Candies

ShelleyRoze - Indulge your art craving ... watercolors, oil and acrylic

laura mccabe - Prints, cards and original art

Felting by Grazim - Felting World

Fourth Row

Pig Castle - twine, wood, paper, miscellaneous

lori nichols - Eco Friendly Handmade Art by Lori Nichols

peaseblossom studio - Handmade Leather Journals Linocuts Wedding Guest Books

Thirteen 13 Creations - Original Artwork Mixed Media Paintings

Discussion: Focus on Etsy, or All Handmade?

2011-03-26T17:44:00.001-04:00

Hello everyone!

I have gotten increasingly serious over the last few weeks about my effort to really turn this into something, and because the mission of Go Etsy is to support the handmade movement, I have been thinking:

Is limiting myself to "Etsy" a bad thing?

Etsy is not the only handmade source - though definitely the biggest now - and I also want to encourage people to buy locally, which would include advertising crafts fairs.

Thoughts and comments are badly wanted and needed!!

Thank you,
Juliana Philippa

Treasury: Young at Heart

2011-03-25T13:08:00.002-04:00

See this Treasury on Etsy!

Etsy Treasury List's Featured Shops

First Row

SoFino - Felted Soap Makes a Perfect Gift

artis - Because ART IS everything ...

Xocolatl Chocolates - chocolate confections and baked goods

old new again - shabby chic, wood shelf, wooden wall letter, key hook

Second Row

Baymut - felted scarves, brooches, slippers, necklaces, and more!

Dough a Deer - dough babies, dough daddies, doughbars, doughdippers

Petit and Cute Design - crocheted little creatures and goodies for every age!

kipi - affordable (original) art to spice up your space

Third Row

Satin & Birch - Handmade Natural Gift Soap Roses Hearts & Angel Wings

cornflower blue studio - Unique & Creative Embroidery, Knitting, Crochet, Art

aliette - Original Artwork, Prints & Art Jewelry

pretty lovelies - colorful beads, flower cabochons, jewelry findings

Fourth Row

I Felt It Too - one-of-a-kind, unique handcrafted fabric brooches

LBCpaper - Handmade Paper Decor, Garlands, Greeting Cards, Goods

Christine2011 - colorful and nature-themed cards and prints

Bed Buggs boutique - BedBuggs Boutique Cute and Unique Handmade Gifts!

Crazy Cool Finds Series, no1

2011-03-21T21:27:00.008-04:00

Here are some crazy cool finds that I thought were just way too neat not to share when I saw them. Love them all - hope you do too!!

NOTE: Clicking on the photo will take you to the item listing.

Left: Spring: The "4 seasons" line ($59)

Right: A unique, colorful, folded-paper bowl ($43)

RutisRoots (Haifa, Israel)

Vintage Upcycled Suitcase Pet Beds ($79, $59)

AtomicAttic (Siletz, OR, USA)

Pillow Salt Pepper Shakers ($42)

Creativewithclay (Federal Way, Tacoma, Seattle, WA, USA)

* * Have bought from this seller - FANTASTIC!!!! * *

OOAK Knit Patchwork Upcycled Repurposed Dream Coat Sweater Dresses ($430-$600)

EnlightenedPlatypus (Denver, CO, USA)

Assorted Fruit Pi Soaps ($5)

rosaleendhu

1939 Fully Restored L.C. Smith Corona Standard

Colored Glass Keys Typewriter w/ Case (SOLD)

joevintage (Glendale, CA, USA)

Impatient Fine Print - 4x6 ($12)

JulienDenoyer (Madrid, Spain)

chesterfiled sofa patchwork ($3,000)

namedesignstudio (Istanbul, Turkey)

Original 3D Embroidery Hoop Art (SOLD)

saysthetree (Chester County, Philadelphia, PA, USA)

Alphabet from Sea Stones ($28)

MamaTita (Russia, Latvia)

Left: Hollow Secret Safe Book (Goldsmith's Poems Victorian Era Petite Book) ($45)

Right: Hollow Book Flask Safe Frederick Forsyth Day of the Jackal (Flask Included) ($60)

SecretSafeBooks (Chicago, IL, USA)

Bohemian Jacket (£227 GBP / ~$379.92 USD)

nattyboho (Suffolk, UK)

April - Eco Friendly Wedding Dress - Made to Order ($995)

threadhead (Knoxville, TN, USA)

Hillhock - Domestic Pig Couch & Sculpture ($950)

PaviaBurroughs (Philadelphia, PA, USA)

Perelandra ($10,000)

TheFaerieMarket (Michigan, USA)

All images from this post taken from the respective Etsy Shops

Treasury: Pretty in White

2011-03-21T16:31:00.004-04:00

See this Treasury on Etsy!

Etsy Treasury List's Featured Shops

First Row
Romantic Threads - Bridal, Medieval, Marie Antoinette, Victorian & Vintage Reproductions
eden's wake - Handmade Clutches, Bags, and Accessories
Photography by Lori H. - Beautiful Fine Art Photography by Lori H.
Fiber Art by frenchfelt - Felt and Textile

Second Row
MayaLee Photography - Dreams & Memories
Studio Snowpuppe (nellianna) - HandMade Foldable LampShades, Fabric / Paper
Lisa Wine Studios - Vintage inspired home decor & more
Handcrafted Obsessions (Waterrose) - Hand Embroidery Textile Artist

Third Row
NzL bags
dear golden (DearGoldenVintage) - vintage clothing, shoes, bags, jewelry & accessories
LBCpaper - Handmade Paper Decor, Garlands, Greeting Cards, Goods
Bijoux by Meg - handcrafted jewelry & custom designs (feature and review to come!)

Fourth Row
magnesina - Fine Art Photography on Etsy
pi'lo (pilosale) - p i l o s a l e
cypress ink - Southern Pressed
the haunted hollow tree - original wall art decor, paintings and pyrography

Welcome to Heartsy ... and Today's Deals!

2011-03-20T12:41:00.006-04:00

Today: Bath & Body, Jewelry, Cookies, Photography, Paper Goods

Once you go Heartsy, you'll never go back! Have you heard of Heartsy.me? If not, be prepared to fall in love and spend much more money on Etsy (while justifying it by telling yourself that you're saving a lot)!

Heartsy uses the same principal as Groupon, LivingSocial, and Deals for Deeds - except it's all for Etsy. Each day, there are several Heartsy deals, each with a different Etsy Shop and offering store credit that saves over 50% (usually 55-70%). It is unbelievable and once you start, you won't stop, lol. Enjoy today's deals (they expire at end of the day!) ...

Ophelia's Apothecary
$14 for $35 Online Store Credit - Save 60% - Deal has been extended: 14 hours left
"Ophelia's Apothecary is a two person team of oil blending fury. We are proud parents of 3 mini-doxies and have a fabulous soap-making studio about a mile away from our house. We believe in using good-for-you ingredients and create our bath and beauty products in small batches to ensure fabulously fresh products from our studio straight to your door."
v Bought it! Review to come ...

Petite Paperie
$11 for $30 Online Store Credit - Save 64% - Deal has been extended: 14 hours left
"Hi, I am Jennifer the owner of Petite Paperie. I have always enjoyed vintage images and paper products and those two passions inspired Petite Paperie, a store specializing in vintage inspired stationery and papercraft. It is so fun to see all the beautiful crafts made from the digital downloads offered in my shop and it always puts a smile on my face knowing that the stationery I create is used to send special messages to your family and friends."
v Am debating ... have bought so many recently though!

Scrumptulicious
$14 for $30 Online Store Credit - Save 54% - 14 hours left
"Kristen Timmers' business Scrumptulicious was born out of necessity. In order to make ends meet after her husband was diagnosed with a life-threatening kidney disease, Kristen began pursuing her passion in baking and created a line of organic cookies which are made using only the finest, local, organic, fair-trade, and seasonal ingredients. The cookies are handcrafted, in small batches, and made to order. Timmers' philosophy is to keep it simple, keep it sustainable, and bake it with love."
v Bought it! My Mom and I couldn't resist - review to come ...

Ballyhoo Jewelry
$18 for $55 Online Store Credit - Save 68% - 14 hours left
"Hi, I'm Amy and run this little gig here at Ballyhoo. I have many inspirations: juxtaposing sweet and evil, tattoo images, Steampunk, horror and romantic/Victorian styles. I live in the D.C. metro area and love the East Coast. I hope you enjoy my designs!"
v Have to look through, but have already bought SO many jewelry Heartsy deals recently ...

Sweet Sally's Soaps
$9 for $25 Online Store Credit - Save 64% - 14 hours left
"Hi, my name is Sarah from Sweet Sally's Soaps. I create beautiful amazing smelling soaps from organic oils. I have always loved to cook and have had an intense interest in herbs and essential oils, so soap making, just seemed a natural progression. From the start, my goal was to produce skin care products that not only smelled wonderful and looked beautiful, but they also must be made from the best skin loving, nourishing ingredients available."
v Haven't looked through the Shop yet, but my resistance threshold is pretty low, lol, so ...

dreams & visions
$18 for $50 Online Store Credit - Save 64% - 14 hours left
"Hi, I'm Tricia McKellar, artist & photographer. My dreamy photographs are inspired by the Southern landscape & a sense of wanderlust. I combine modern photography with digital painting to evoke an emotion or memory within the viewer."

All images from Heartsy.me, which were all submitted by the respective Etsy Shops

Review redstarINK - paper goods: simple, bold, modern, eco-friendly (4.5)

2011-03-19T00:36:00.001-04:00

Etsy Shop redstarINK - Designer Marcie Hicks (San Diego, CA)

I first shopped with redstarINK in September 2010 when I bought Marcie's DIY calendar in brown and blue, pictured below (it's also available in black and red). I am a HUGE lover of all things organizing-related - The Container Store is extremely dangerous for me and I try to stay clear as much as possible - so when I stumbled across her Shop I felt like I'd stumbled into heaven!

All of the items are eco-friendly and I love the simplicity of her designs. Everything is clean and bold and simple - just great! Shop categories: calendars, journals, notebooks, photo album, prints, box of notes, single notes, tiny notes, wine tags, SALE.

Info from her profile and website: Marcie is a graphic designer and artist. She designs, prints, and puts together all of the products herself. Everything is handmade and she uses as much recycled materials as possible. Items listed are usually ready to ship.

Review

What I Bought

As mentioned above, I bought the DIY calendar in brown and blue. Item arrived quickly after purchase. What I love about this is that it is not time specific, so the weeks/dates are not numbered and you fill in that info yourself. The two page spread shows a box for every day of the week with 14 lines, each with a circle at the beginning so that you can check off items as you go. There is also a blank, unlined "Notes" box in the upper right-hand corner of each week. Click on the photos to see more pictures. I emailed Marcie with a suggestion for her next calendars and she replied promptly and positively.

Phone pic of my own REDSTAR ink
DIY calendar (well-used!)

+ PROS + wonderful product, great quality, very good finishing, professional-looking, shipped quickly, great customer service

-- CONS -- only con was the price, which for me (on an AmeriCorps VISTA stipend) was pretty steep: $29.25 including shipping - lasts a long time, so evens out, but is all printed from template and compared to some other calendars it is pricey

= VERDICT = Will definitely buy from again (including this product)! The entire buying experience was a positive one and I continue to use the item daily. Items that I'm in love with and am considering buying in the future: new left brain / right brain notebook, orders notebook, DIY bills calendar or 2011 bills calendar, set of 8 greetings from ____ cards (different cities and states), list notebook, long list notebook, SALE eco notebook (many of these items are pictured below - check them out!).

Items: eco-friendly paper goods - notebooks, calendars, cards, tags
Price Range: $4, $8, $12, $15-$30

Opened: July 27, 2009
Items for Sale: 88
Total Sales: 881
Feedback: 100% positive (479 positive, 1 neutral, no negative)

Links:
* REDSTARink - Etsy Shop
* Marcie - Etsy Profile
* Professional website
* Video - very cool video on her website showing a notebook being put together
* REDSTAR ink blog
* Facebook Page
* @redstarink - Twitter

Images from Etsy Shop redstarINK

NOTE: I purchased the item reviewed and am expressing my own uninfluenced opinions.

Treasury: The Spectral Coordinates of Passion

2011-03-17T14:48:00.001-04:00

See this Treasury on Etsy!

Etsy Treasury List's Featured Shops

First Row
Laura Johnston | photographer : : artist - Art, Photography & Things in Between
The Rainbow Girl - Unique hand dyed fabrics, threads and textile supplies
mother's atelier - handmade carpet and kelim (rug) pillow cases / accessories
timelessNchic - No beginning, no end, always stylish (feature and review to come!)

Second Row
thrush vintage - iconic vintage
name design studio - exciting patchwork and upcycled furniture
CookieBits - Handmade Pop Up Cards & Quirky Whatnots
sveika - hand. made. good. home.

Third Row
Folding Chair Designs - Headbands & Earrings
Rebound Designs - A second chance for well loved books
1canoe2 / oneCANOEtwo - Letterpressed goodness from the Heartland!
YELLENA - Prints and originals by Yellena James

Fourth Row
Victoria Camp designs - Repurposed & Modern Jewelry for Everyday and Bridal
begurple designs - Unique fabric creations and accessories
Scrapping Art - Gorgeous Handmade Cards, Tags and paper goodies
GreenTCrafts - Cards and prints inspired by nature and beauty

Quick Pick: Classic Dress Shirt / Tunic in Linen

2011-03-17T00:57:00.000-04:00

Etsy Shop isabelamyo - Designer Isabel Amyo (Bordeaux, France)

Am in love with this "My Garden" dress shirt / tunic! So simple and elegant at the same time. I love the neckline and (especially!!) the sleeves - both remind me of medieval clothing. Available in several colors - beautiful and classic-looking in each one!

Price: $135.00 + $13.00 s&h
Details: Handmade to order - can shorten to whatever length you desire - ready to ship in 10 business days

Another top of hers that I love:

Links:
* isabelamyo - Etsy Shop
* Isabel Amyo - Etsy Profile

All images from Etsy Shop isabelamyo

Quick Pick: Crocheted Soft Sculpture Wall Art

2011-03-16T00:08:00.000-04:00

"Tide Pool Soft Sculpture in Green" - So Creative! (Alabama, USA)

Cornflower Blue Studio
Artist Rachel Hunnicutt

Product Description:
"This amazing piece developed from my obsession with coral/barnacle/fungus/seed pod/organic shapes. I used a secondhand wood frame as a base, coating it with gesso and two layers of this wonderful light green paint. Then I crocheted each individual piece with a small crochet hook and three subtle shades of cotton blend yarn. Each piece was arranged and glued onto the base. I love the monochromatic effect and the unexpected juxtaposition of forms.

This piece is signed and ready to hang.

Measures approximately 9 x 7 inches (23 x 18 cm).

Because the wood plaque is second hand (best to reuse!) there may be an imperfection or two on its surface. The paint does a good job at hiding imperfections, but they may exist."

Links:
* cornflower blue studio - Etsy Shop
* Rachel Hunnicutt - Etsy profile
* cornflower blue {enjoying a handmade life} - blog
* Vegan Etsy - member

Note: In addition to Shop Features, Item Finds, and Reviews I've decided to do "Quick Pick" posts, since I so often find amazingly awesome items when I do not have the time to do a full post, this will be a way for me to still share them with everyone!

All images from Etsy Shop cornflowerbluestudio

Item Find: Inspirational Print for Women, Girls

2011-03-11T20:49:00.000-05:00

A Perfect Way to Celebrate Women's History Month!

I don't remember how I first found this print from Valentina Ramos's Etsy Shop, but I have had it bookmarked forever. I absolutely love it - I love the artist's style and design, and I *love* the quote and the spirit behind it.

Another wonderful thing about this print is that it's also available in flat card form at a terrific price - 6 cards in three different colors (green, orange, blue) for only $6.50 + $2.00 s&h (envelopes not included). (See photo below)

One of the things I wish more artists would do is sell their work in note card and flat card form - it's such a great way of reaching a wider audience, providing an affordable way for people to access your work, AND it's functional, which is always a great way for a buyer to justify the purchase to themselves. Off my little soap box now and back to Valentina and her gorgeous prints ...

Valentina Ramos is a graphic designer based in Miami, Florida and she describes her work as original, inspirational, and uplifting artwork - wonderfully accurate description. Her Etsy Shop valentinadesign sells original artwork, prints, digital and printables, great personalized items for kids, and a 2011 wall calendar. She also has a very cool blog that uses her own work throughout the theme - I'm green with jealousy about how absolutely fantastic and cool it looks ;-). See full list of links below.

Items: prints and original artwork (graphics and ink)
Price Range: lowest is $6, most are between $15-$22, originals are $55-$450

Opened: May 9, 2006
Items for Sale: 121
Total Sales: 2161
Feedback: 100% positive (968 positive, 3 neutral)

Links:
* valentinadesign - Etsy Shop
* Valentina Ramos - professional website
* personal shop - buy fabrics, iPhone cases, pillows, napkins, place mats, and more!
* feeling inspired - blog
* Valentina Ramos Art - Facebook Page
* @valendesign - Twitter

All images from Etsy Shop valentinadesign and Valentina Ramos's Facebook Page

Item Find: Adorable Craft and Vendor Apron

2011-03-10T22:16:00.000-05:00

I stumbled across this item in my Activity Feed - a function which I have become obsessed with and is so great for discovering new finds through friends or like-minded shoppers. It's listed as a "Crafty/Vendor/Sewing Apron with Handmade Heart" and is so cute, I love it! I was trying desperately to come up with a reason that I need this, given that it's only $12.00 + $1.75 for shipping!!

The item is sold in the Etsy Shop vasini, which is run by a fashion designer in Charlotte, North Carolina and seems to sell mostly wedding guest clothing items, with a focus on shrugs and wraps. In her profile she writes that she loves to sew and particularly likes working with hand-spun fabrics like raw silk, which is evident from looking at her shop, where most of the photos have that nice shiny silk look to them.

If you have a wedding or nice event coming up, I would definitely recommend checking out her shop ASAP, since all domestic orders placed through March 12 will get free shipping!

Items: silk shrugs and wraps, some additional accessories
Price Range: majority are $35-$65

Opened: September 28, 2009
Items for Sale: 18
Total Sales: 120
Feedback: 100% positive (68 positives, 3 neutrals)

Links:
* vasini - Etsy Shop
* Vasini Designs - blog

All photos taken from Etsy Shop vasini

Shop Feature: Ingrid's Art

2011-03-03T00:16:00.000-05:00

Funky Whimsical Drawing and Painting (California, USA)

Don't remember how I discovered this Etsy Shop (ingridsart), but I absolutely love the work! "Funky" seems a perfect description, but there is also something delicately beautiful about Ingrid Padilla's work. Her art is very detailed, which is what I think adds to - or creates - this impression. In her Etsy profile, she describes herself as a self-taught artist and says that "the unexpected is what I hope to achieve in my art always."

When looking at the small previews of Ingrid's work, they look like tiny machines and I at first thought that the added details were gears and mechanical parts. When you actually look at a listing however, they seem to instead be some type of other-worldly planet surfaces. Just love it!

Much of her work is abstract, but she also has a fabulous line of Whimsical Letters, which would make an ideal birthday gift. They come in two sizes: 8.5x11 for $20 and 11x14 sizes for $35. Some other Shop categories include Heart Prints, Funky lil Monster Prints, and Originals on Paper and on Canvas. The canvas work is very different from the rest of her body of work.

What I would love to see would be a series of note cards - that would be something I could not resist. A series based on the heart prints would be lovely, and there could also be flat note card sets with the different letters, so it could serve as personalized stationery.

Items: paint and ink drawings - prints and originals
Price Range: $10-$12 (a few); $20-$35 (definitely the majority); goes up to $250

Experience: N/A
Verdict: The letter prints would be a perfect gift for yourself or someone else; the monster prints would be great for a kids' room; hope to see some of the prints in note card form in the future

Opened: February 20, 2007
Items for Sale: 149
Total Sales: 81
Feedback: 100% positive (37 positive, none negative or neutral)

Links:
* ingridsart - Etsy Shop
* mosaicwhimsy - Ingrid's other Etsy Shop featuring Mosaic Whimsy Originals
* Ingrid Padilla Art - Facebook Page
* Flickr photostream
* Profile on Blue Canvas

All photos taken from Etsy Shop Ingrid's Art

Shop Feature: Sandra June Sculptures

2011-02-20T18:42:00.000-05:00

Sculpture for Home and Garden Decor (United Kingdom)

I stumbled upon this wonderfully unique shop by using the great Pounce function on Etsy, which randomly selects Shops that are either Undiscovered (recently updated shops that have not yet had a sale) or Just Sold (shops that have just had a sale).

Sandra June Sculptures features one-of-a-kind handmade textile and mixed media sculptures. The store opened only three months ago and has not yet had a sale, so have a look at this beautiful work and consider adding a delicate touch of beauty to your home, inside or out!

I discovered more information about the artist on the Folksy website: these great sculptures, despite appearing delicate, are apparently "almost shatterproof." Those made for the outdoors are also water- and frost-resistant and can stay out all winter.

Items: sculptures, tea-light holders
Price Range: $50s-$270s (£30s-£160s); seems to be three price groups: $40s (£25), $90s-$120s (£55-£75), $275 (£170)

Experience: N/A
Verdict: I would absolutely love one of these outside my front door or as a conversation piece in the living room / library; would also make great gift for my Mom or one of my artsy friends

Opened: November 11, 2010
Items for Sale: 19
Total Sales: None
Feedback: N/A

All photos taken from Etsy Shop Sandra June Sculptures.

Shop Feature: irregularexpressions

2011-02-19T01:13:00.001-05:00

Freeform Fiber Art and Jewelry (Turkey)

irregular expressions is a shop I found towards the beginning of my Etsy days and one that I immediately fell in love with. The Shop is run by a family in Turkey: the mother, a retired schoolteacher, is the artist and her son and daughter help her run the Shop.

The work is beautiful - unique, intricate, colorful, and very natural-seeming. Some items are funky, others are delicate - it's a nice blend of different styles and, as seen in the pictures, will always complement - and wonderfully enhance - a simple black top. The main jewelry sold are necklaces and cuffs/bracelets. There are some definite signature styles that are repeated with different colors, accents, and materials.

Items: necklaces, bracelets, cuffs

Price Range: $70s-$170s; most around $90 or $100

Experience: N/A

Verdict: once I can afford it, I will definitely be buying a piece

Opened: September 1, 2007

Items for Sale: 14

Total Sales: 392

Feedback: 262, 100% positive (written notes are all glowingly positive!)

All photos taken from Etsy Shop irregularexpressions.

Handmadeaholic

Treasury: The People's Color

Treasury: Winter Blues

Quick Pick: 2012 Pit Bull Calendar Benefiting Animal Rescues

*Review* Pendant Necklaces from Handy Maiden (4.5 stars)

*Review* Eye Depuffer from Erzulie Cosmetics (5 stars)

Discussion: Sellers Giving Feedback After Buyers

Treasury: Brighten Up Your Day

Discussion: Focus on Etsy, or All Handmade?

Treasury: Young at Heart

Crazy Cool Finds Series, no1

Treasury: Pretty in White

Welcome to Heartsy ... and Today's Deals!

*Review* redstarINK - paper goods: simple, bold, modern, eco-friendly (4.5)

Treasury: The Spectral Coordinates of Passion

Quick Pick: Classic Dress Shirt / Tunic in Linen

Quick Pick: Crocheted Soft Sculpture Wall Art

Item Find: Inspirational Print for Women, Girls

Item Find: Adorable Craft and Vendor Apron

Shop Feature: Ingrid's Art

Shop Feature: Sandra June Sculptures

Shop Feature: irregularexpressions

Review Pendant Necklaces from Handy Maiden (4.5 stars)

Review Eye Depuffer from Erzulie Cosmetics (5 stars)

Review redstarINK - paper goods: simple, bold, modern, eco-friendly (4.5)