veranellies

Buy Handmade vol 106 GIVEAWAY AND DISCOUNT CODE!!!

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sun, 04 May 2014 04:00:00 +0000

This week we head to Victoria, BC..

Name: Miranda

Age: 28

Occupation: Whistle & Flute Owner/designer

Shop: https://www.etsy.com/shop/WhistleFlute

But our new collection can be found here: http://www.whistleandfluteclothing.com/

Tell us a little about yourself.
I'm a mom to Aki (2) and Archer (3 months). Wife to Ryan. I have a background in fashion design and Ryan is a graphic designer.

When did you start creating and how long have you been on Etsy?
When Aki was a year old we started making him shirts. People showed interest and we opened up our etsy store a year ago.

How did you come up with your business name, is there any special meaning behind it?
Whistle & flute is cockney rhyming slang for suit ( i also play the flute )

Has your Etsy shop become your full time job? If not, would you like it to be?
Before we started the shop I wasn't working I was/am a SAHM. So yes it has become my full time job on top of both of our full time jobs.

How would you describe your creative process?
Usually I come up with an idea, tell Ryan and he started working on ideas on the computer.

Where do you get your inspiration from?
Our kids. We aim to create clothes that are unisex and ageless.

What is your most cherished handmade item?
Love our House of Mia leggings!

Apart from creating things, what do you like to do?
Hang out with our kids :)

Was there ever any other job you dreamed of having growing up?
I always wanted to be a mom

Five years from now you will be…
Both working full time on Whistle & Flute. Hopefully have a dedicated space too.

Describe yourself in five words:
mom, creative, friend, black & white

Carrying on with the five theme, if I were to turn on your <insert whatever type of music player you use here>, what five artists/songs would I see on your recently played list?
Itunes- Haim, Outkast Hey Ya (our baby falls asleep to this haha), Pharrel's Happy (our toddler loves this) , david bowie, Frozen soundtrack (ok that's just me)

Lastly, do you have any advice for anyone thinking about opening their own shop or participating in craft shows?
Do what you love

WHISTLE AND FLUTE

also found at:

instagram: @whistleandflute
Facebook: www.facebook.com/WhistleFlute

Miranda has been EXTREMELY generous! One reader will win their choice of tee-shirt from their shop! They are also offering a 10% OFF discount code by using "VERANELLIES" at check out.

How awesome is that?! Good luck everyone!!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Buy Handmade vol 105 PLUS GIVEAWAY!!!!!

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sun, 27 Apr 2014 04:00:00 +0000

This week we are in Indonesia

Name: Amalia K

Age: 38

Occupation: Artist and illustrator

Etsy Shop: www.TheWishForest.etsy.com

Tell us a little about yourself.

I’m an Indonesian born artist, focusing mainly on fine art and illustration. I live in the highlands of West Java with my husband and three children. Art is a huge passion of mine and I’m lucky to be able to spend many hours in a day doing what I truly love.
When did you start creating and how long have you been on Etsy?

I’ve been creating all my life, ever since I learned how to draw as a little girl. I started working in the creative field after I graduated from the university, mainly as an illustrator. A few years ago, I started my personal blog and joined Etsy to make my work available to the rest of the world in 2011.

How did you come up with your business name, is there any special meaning behind it?

When I was little, I used to imagine a special place where I could be whatever I wanted and go into all sorts of adventures with my creature friends. That place was a forest that could grant me any wish, so I decided to name my shop “The Wish Forest”.
Has your Etsy shop become your full time job? If not, would you like it to be?

I work independently as an illustrator, doing many types of projects that involve various fields. Recently, I have been creating more and more personal work and I sell them in my Etsy shop. I think the shop also acts as a gallery and I’m happy with the response I’ve been getting so far.
How would you describe your creative process?

I must admit that I’m one of those artists who can’t keep a sketchbook. I start most of my work when trigerred by a significant emotional feeling that inspires me. I don’t do sketches first, but plunge myself right in, stopping only for little breaks or when I’m totally satisfied with the piece.

Where do you get your inspiration from?

Human emotions fascinate me. I find it impossible not to wonder about them, and I like to show this in my work. Many times I get inspirations from my own childhood memories and past experiences. Sometimes a simple conversation does the trick, sometimes it's the tragedies I see in the world every day.
Do you also sell your work at craft shows?

I don’t sell my work at craft shows. Mostly working with clients on particular projects, custom orders and on Etsy. I’m at the moment working towards exhibiting my work in a solo show.

Apart from creating things, what do you like to do?

I love my coffee time, having my nose stuck in a book, spending time with my family, cooking and sampling good food with good company.

Was there ever any other job you dreamed of having growing up?

No. I’m very, very fortunate to have a job that I’ve always wanted for as long as I can remember.

Five years from now you will be…

Hopefully still doing what I love best, creating art and sharing it with the world.

Describe yourself in five words:

Passionate, creative, sensitive, intuitive and hard working.

Carrying on with the five theme, if I were to turn on your iPod, what five artists/songs would I see on your recently played list?

The Civil Wars, Priscilla Ahn, Katy Perry, Coldplay, Sigur Rós.

Lastly, do you have any advice for anyone thinking about opening their own shop or participating in craft shows?

Be brave and embrace your passions fully. Always remember that the more you give, the more you’ll receive in return. There's no doubt that in order to move forward, you'll need a strong support system from family, friends, and the wonderful people you've met online.

You can find me here:

Amalia has also graciously offered a 20$ gift voucher for one of you lucky readers! I am really jelous on this one, it means you can get a free print of your choice, or put the 20$ toward one of her pillows, curtains or originals. Amazing work and lots to choose from! Good luck!!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

fff vol 113

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Fri, 25 Apr 2014 04:00:00 +0000

Favorite finds from the past week:

Etsy find of the week:

source

beautiful..

Please can I move in?

source

I love this little house, it looks like someone cut it in half.

Get in my belly!

source

Oh my goodness, yes please! Ice cream sandwiches have always been one of my favorites!

Tee shirt of the week:

source

Never go wrong with Patagonia organic shirts..

Sorry for my little mini absence (if anyone even noticed? hah) We had gone to Massachusetts for the weekend and then lets just say I've had a not nice pleasant work week. I've been working a lot of over time, and have been quite burnt out. This week should be the last for a while (I hope).

This weekend will be spent with last minute getting ready for market next weekend! How on earth is it possible that the market will be starting next weekend?! I'm super excited, I'm not sure if the "layout" will be ready though. Kevin is building a new table and working on items for displays, so it may be a few weeks of using old layout style..then grand unveiling in June? We shall see. I'm excited none the less. We also have a new spot which is exciting. We will have a "curb space" which means we can park right next to our spot and be right there! No more walking all over lugging heavy boxes, moving vehicles etc. just park, unload at the curb and done. Ahhhhhh soooo much better. Plus we will be two spaces down from our good friends Kelly and Adam and well, we think it will just be so much better!

So what has everyone been up to? Can't wait for this weekend to relax a little bit. Traveling weekends are always exhausting, and then ot this week - I just haven't gotten much sleep lately...ahhhh sleeping in! That is my plan for tomorrow morning. Though knowing me, I will be up by 7.

Have a great weekend all!

Buy Handmade vol 104

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sun, 20 Apr 2014 04:00:00 +0000

This week we are in Slovenia..

Name: Boris Nemet

Age: 26

Occupation: Avid Orange Peeler

Etsy Shop: Orange Sessions

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/orange9sessions

Tell us a bit about yourself.

Finally it has happened. I opened a shop called Orange Sessions. Lately, it was on pause, since I have been waiting for my new and better camera to arrive so I could make proper photos of these new orange lights. What else to say about myself...
I like to do too many things at once and sometimes when I start speaking I cannot be stopped.
I believe kindness is the best religion there is and I revere Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan.
And that’s the hole truth and nothing butt. Ok, there is a lot of butt now, since I got a little bit fat this winter.

When did you start creating and how long have you been on Etsy?

I’ve made my first steps into field of visual expression when I was 15, I started painting, drawing and making some installations under caring eye of painter Mira Narobe. Making different things out of orange and other peels started around 6 years ago. First thing I ever did with peels was a wooden box for a girl I liked, followed by a big orange sculpture.

How did you come up with your business name, is there any special meaning behind it?

I'm not sure, but I believe it has to do with me being a big musicophil and listening to all those BBC Peel Sessions, french radio Black Sessions, Pixies Purple Tape. I googled my name now and it comes up with an album of the same name by some band called Cash Audio.

Name Orange Sessions is tied to symbolism of orange color that combines the energy of red and the happiness of yellow. It is associated with joy, sunshine, creativity, optimism, enthusiasm and warmth.

Has your Etsy shop become your full time job? If not, would you like it to be?

Not yet, but I’m working towards it. I imagine it not being an easy job, but it is what I would really love to do for a living. Currently, I'm unemployed and attending a school for biotherapist. I plan to mix it with Ayurveda which is, beside creative work one of my biggest passions.

How would you describe your creative process?

It’s pretty basic, I turn on some music that I like and start painting or drawing and that's it. If I’m peeling peels (removing the white stuff that’s called albedo) it can get pretty tedious so I prefer to smoke one before and I do if I have some. Then I love listen to some good audio book. Other part’s of orange work are fun.

Where do you get your inspiration from?

My mind is like a fishnet and when I catch something interesting I contemplate on it for a while and then try to bring it to life in the most original and interesting way. It's quite obvious that my peel work is inspired by nature. Not just my art but my whole being seeks wisdom from unmistakable laws of nature and from works of Lao Tzu and Buddha. Sometimes I get something from a book or the way the clouds are shaped or how Sun spreads its brightness and warmth. I like being around people and sometimes their kindness fills me with such positivity that it’s transformed into full blown inspiration and then my most creative mode turns on.

What is your most cherished handmade item?

From recent ones it’s the big Sun and from the older, it’s the painting called “Letište v srdci” (The airport in the heart in Czech) but I preffer to call them art instead of handmade. Smaller items, like small suns, boxes and lights can fit into crafts category but my paintings and bigger conceptual work is so called “fine art”. It may be that I’m so sensitive to categorization because lack of formal art education, I’m not sure. Maybe I have to bring those snobish walls in my head down, now that I will start to do jewelry.

Apart from creating things, what do you like to do?

I love to do many things, almost everything but watching sports. I think that these days, sport is just business of buying and selling. That being said, I love to run and cycle, but do it rarely.

I am part of Theatre of the Oppressed group and have just started educating in modern storytelling variete. I like reading books on diverse subjects, listening to music and going to concerts. I write. I love foraging in the wild. I do Vipassana, Sungazing and Entheogens and like to

mix the last two with music if I can.

Was there ever any other job you dreamed of having growing up?

When I was little, I’ve been dreaming about being a radio dj, explorer of undiscovered species and lifeforms or inventor. Now I dream about taking my peels craft to the world and making a living out of it, biotherapy and natural medicine. And getting a decent job in the process, but that seems unlikely.

Five years from now you will be…

Creating, doing therapies, writing and probably be still involved with theater or storytellng in one way or another.

Describe yourself in five words:

Sociable, eloquent, inward-turning, creative, tall

Carrying on with the five theme, if I were to turn on your music player, what five artists/songs would I see on your recently played list?

I’m glad that you asked this one.

Cocteau Twins – Those eyes, that mouth

Billie Holiday – All of Me

Fela Kuti – Look and Laugh

I’m Not a Gun – Every Moment Is Ours

Bersarin Quartett – Alles ist ein Wunder

Lastly, do you have any advice for anyone thinking about opening their own shop or participating in craft shows?

I will quote two of my heroes. Joseph Campbell when he says:

“Follow your bliss.
If you do follow your bliss,
you put yourself on a kind of track
that has been there all the while waiting for you,
and the life you ought to be living
is the one you are living.
When you can see that,
you begin to meet people
who are in the field of your bliss,
and they open the doors to you.
I say, follow your bliss and don't be afraid,
and doors will open
where you didn't know they were going to be.
If you follow your bliss,
doors will open for you that wouldn't have opened for anyone else.”

I wanted also to quote Hubert Selby, but I can’t find that one, so I will try to paraphrase it.

He said that making true art is a process when you give up everything, the relationships, recognition and give the whole energy and time into it while not expecting anything in return.

In the end, I will add something of my own. I agree with Selby, but I try to not be so idealistic anymore.

I love getting something in return, that’s the whole reason that I opened an Etsy shop.

I believe the most important things for your art or craft are honesty, to yourself and to others and originality. Believing is the key. When you try to do something really different, people will, even your loved ones think that you’re mad. Be persistent. There is an old saying that even the mad man will become wise, only if he persists enough in his lunacy.

If there’s a creativity inside you, find ways to get it out. It’s beneficial for you and your surroundings.

It brings magic to everyday and makes life no longer something to endure, but to live.

ORANGE SESSIONS

wiw vol 57 - Orphan Black

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Wed, 16 Apr 2014 04:00:00 +0000

TV Series 2013 -

Amazon Prime

Storyline

SPOILER: Orphan Black follows outsider, orphan and street-wise chameleon Sarah. After witnessing a woman's suicide, Sarah assumes the strangers identity - who happens to look just like her. Expecting to solve all her problems by cleaning out the dead woman's savings, Sarah is instead thrust headlong into a kaleidoscopic mystery as she realizes the dizzying truth - she and the dead woman are clones. As Sarah searches for answers, she discovers the chilling fact that there are more people like her out there - genetically identical individuals who were planted in unsuspecting birth parents and nurtured in completely different circumstances. With no idea who created the clones, she'll need to discover the reason in a hurry as an assassin is killing them one by one.

I fell in love with this show and watched the entire first season very quickly. Just waiting for season 2 to be put on Amazon Prime. Have you watched this show? It's so amazing that she plays all these roles. Very cool show, check it out if you haven' seen it.

Buy Handmade vol 103

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sun, 13 Apr 2014 04:00:00 +0000

This week we head to Croatia..

Name: Marina Marinski

Age: 29

Occupation: Ceramic designer

Etsy Shop: Marinski Handmades

Tell us a little about yourself.
I'm coming from a beautiful industrial city situated on Adriatic coast called Rijeka (meaning River), Croatia.

During the last couple of years, I have been working with different materials such as plastic, wood & clay. Organic properties of clay has fully occupied my attention. I found it strong and stable and at the same time warm and genuine in its primitiveness. I'm a jewelry and pottery designer and I run a small ceramic studio with a help of my boyfriend Daniel, photographer.

When did you start creating and how long have you been on Etsy?
I have started creating when I was 5 :)

At that age I was living in a big family house, with my cousins, grandparents and I enjoyed making little drawings and handmade presents for them, just to make them smile. That's what I remember. Later on, in high school, I enjoyed making bags, shoes and jewelry for my friends. Since then, I'm totally hooked on working with hands. After a good acceptance of my products in Croatia, I wanted to show my design to the rest of the world, so a year ago I opened an Etsy shop.

How did you come up with your business name, is there any special meaning behind it?
My name is Marina Marinski. People find it funny, like it's joke, but it's for real. I think my father did it on purpose and I'm glad he did it. It seemed like a perfect name for a brand :)

Has your Etsy shop become your full time job? If not, would you like it to be?
A month ago I completely changed the offer of my Etsy shop. Instead of jewelry, I have decided to go with ceramic dishes. I'm super satisfied with the feedback and hoping it will become a part of my full time job.

How would you describe your creative process?
My creative process is made out of tiny steps.

Sometimes I draw my ideas on paper, usually directly to the clay surface. First stage is hand building or building dishes using positive molds I have made out of plaster. Next step is reviving them with the illustration and when they are completely dry they are ready for the first firing.

To protect the drawing and to make dishes useable in the kitchen, I'm applying transparent glaze and returning pieces into the kiln for second firing. That's the production part after which there is still a lot of work to do such as photographing, marketing and packaging design.

Where do you get your inspiration from?
Everything around me can be an inspiration. Life is an inspiration.

Do you also sell your work at craft shows?
I love to sell my products at craft fairs. Couple of times a year I participate in them. I love to spend time with my customers and share experiences with other exhibitors. Craft fair is a place for me, always fulfilled with positive energy.

What is your most cherished handmade item?
It's so hard to pick one and I won't do it. Just love them all.

Apart from creating things, what do you like to do?
I love to cook, spend time with family and friends, dance, listen to music and travel.

Was there ever any other job you dreamed of having growing up?
Sure, a lot of them when I was a kid like being a lawyer or a nurse. Later on, I discovered that being creative and living out of my own creations is the best job ever.

Five years from now you will be..
making the same cozy ceramics, in a bigger studio, maybe having my own gallery, maybe living in the countryside and having big organic food forest. We will see :)

Describe yourself in five words:
Persistent, energetic, stubborn, imaginative, silly.

Carrying on with the five theme, if I were to turn on your <insert whatever type of music player you use here>, what five artists/songs would I see on your recently played list?
Radiohead, Jose Gonzales, Queens Of The Stone Age, Kings of convenience, Little dragon.

Lastly, do you have any advice for anyone thinking about opening their own shop or participating in craft shows?
Just follow your dream and do what you love.

MarinskiHandamdes

fff vol 111

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Fri, 11 Apr 2014 04:00:00 +0000

Favorite finds from the past week:

Etsy find of the week:

source

Awesome print, love her work.

Please can I move in?

source

very cool little house..

Get in my belly!

source

Oh my goodness..and in only 20 minutes?!

Tee shirt of the week:

source

Interesting tee-shirt. I'm not 100% sure if I would wear it or not, but it has a lot of cute parts to it.

Only a few weeks to go before markets start up. I finally got in my labels for the deodorants..and you won't believe what I did! Ordered the wrong size!! We have figured out a way to still use them with some cutting and rearranging, but gez can you believe that?! After all that hard work and measuring and designing .. I measured wrong..obviously multiple times and never caught it until well..hundreds of dollars were spent and labels that were too big arrived at my doorstep. oi! I'll figure it out as to not waste..not to mention I dont have the extra funds to replace them but man o man, I cannot believe I did that. Talk about going from being super excited to super depressed in a matter of minutes.

I've been doing lots of overtime lately, so havent had much free time. I've also been slacking on working out too. But last weekend, it was finally semi nice and we took the girls on the first "adventure Sunday" of the year. I'll have to post some pictures. We went to Green Lakes and the lake was so amazing looking because it was still frozen. I was a silly goose and wore new boots and ended up getting horrible blisters, so the walk was not too fun. I'm excited about my boots tho! I got a pair of half cab bogs. I've been wanting a pair for a couple years and finally splurged (thank you over time)

I'm excited for this weekends adventure, not sure where we are going to go yet, but it is supposed to be almost 70! A far cry for the 20-40 degree weather we have been having.

Have a great weekend everyone!

bad word:Selenium Sulfide

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Thu, 10 Apr 2014 04:00:00 +0000

Selenium Sulfide

Hazard Score: (EWG Risk Score)

EIGHT

Hazard score key:


Low hazard	Moderate hazard	High hazard

What is it?
Antidandruff Agent; Hair Conditioning Agent

Synoym(s): SELENIUM DISULFIDE

Where is it found?

Hair conditioners, anti-dandruff shampoos

The Risk:
This chemical has been banned in both Europe and Japan and is deemed a possible carcinogen by the EPA, NTP and the state of California EPA. It is also toxic to the respiratory, organ, kidney, cardiovascular, and gastrointestinal systems.

A few companies using this ingredient:

Selsun Blue
Head and Shoulders
Excel
Generic anti-dandruff companies including Wal-Mart brand Equate

My Opinion:

This is some nasty stuff. It has also been deemed a wildlife and environmental toxicity. Is getting rid of dandruff really worth the risks?!

wiw vol 56 - The Greenhorns

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Wed, 09 Apr 2014 04:00:00 +0000

Documentary - 2010 - 40 minutes

Amazon Prime

Storyline

Armed with a camcorder, farmer-filmmaker-activist Severine von Tscharner Fleming spent two years crisscrossing America, meeting and mobilizing a network of revolutionary young farmers resettling the land. 'The Greenhorns' is an ode to their grit and entrepreneurial spirit, an exploration of sustainable agriculture, and an enticement to reclaim our national soil. The ninety minute feature is the culmination of well over 200 hours of original footage from all regions of the United States, as well as original animation by young urban farmer and artist Brooke Budner, and rare agricultural archival footage from the Prelinger Archives. Ultimately, The Greenhorns shows us how farmers can move out of the margins recent history has consigned them to, and back to the heart of the American food landscape.

This movie, like many other like it, make me want to say goodbye to my desk job and get out in the dirt. I always have grand ideas of how I'd like to have lots of land and start my own small veggie and fruit farm. You never know, someday... But until that time, I will continue to support all our local farmers and friends we have made through the farmer's markets and make our front yard veggie gardens bigger and better every year.

Buy local!

Buy Handmade vol 102 PLUS GIVEAWAY!

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sun, 06 Apr 2014 04:00:00 +0000

This week we head to Brisbane Australia

Name: Belinda Stanton

Age: 39

Occupation: Artist/designer

Etsy Shop: Belinism (Blog: www.belindastanton.com)

Tell us a little about yourself.

I live in Australia with my husband, our children and much loved ageing Springer spaniel. My nickname is Belin, clay is my thing, along with painting and drawing. Were possible I try to combine all three things.

When did you start creating and how long have you been on Etsy?

In pre-school I spent more time looking out of the classroom window, doodling on the back of work books than working in them. Later in high school, it was on the back of exam papers. Something to draw with and something to draw on and I am away…with the fairies, flowers, sunshine, clouds...

I have had an Etsy shop for over 2 years. It has taken me a while to ‘find my feet’ and I still have so much to learn. I am only just starting to make regular sales on Etsy these last few months.

How did you come up with your business name, is there any special meaning behind it?

I didn’t want to use my full name (Belinda Stanton) it was too long and not very memorable. When I first meet my husband, he called me Belin, which just seemed to stick. Over the years my quirky/whimsical way at looking at the world became labelled as a “Belinism”. So I guess using this as my business name seemed only natural.

Has your Etsy shop become your full time job? If not, would you like it to be?

I currently work part time as a graphic designer… and yes, I would love to be able to give that job away in the future. To see Etsy become a big part of my main income would be awesome but I also have my heart set on having exhibitions and continuing to do the occasional design market. I have an exhibition coming up in September to show some of my larger sculptural pieces. If I can keep the Etsy shop rolling AND develop a career as an artist I would be one very happy lady.

How would you describe your creative process?

I do a lot of sketching and imagining in my numerous sketch diaries. I’m not always in the studio so when inspiration hits I want to be able to jot it down. When I do eventually get time in the studio I like to make the most of it. There are quite a lot of stages for both my ceramic table ware and sculptural pieces to go through… after the initial concept, I have to work out how it will work in clay, build it, apply any surface decorations, fire it, glaze it, fire it again and sometimes even fire it a third time (if I want to add a lustre). Simple pieces usually take a month or so to make their way around the studio. Sculptural pieces can take months (and months and months…). Then there is the photographing, marketing, admin, bookkeeping, etc.

Where do you get your inspiration from?

Anywhere and anything. From the kids, the backyard, conversations with people, books, music, experiences, etc. One of the more recent sculptural pieces I am working on at the moment is about the train ride I take to get to my design job. The day to day regularity of life. Inspiration can be found anywhere.

Do you also sell your work at craft shows?

Yes. I think it’s important to get yourself out there on a physical level and see how people react to your work. I have been at a few big design markets like Melbourne Made:trade:design fair and the Finderskeepers markets but I am also a member of our local BrisStyle designer market. We’re a community of designers and crafters that also have a great Etsy presence.

I’m not sure I’ll make it to many this year with the exhibition happening. There is so much preparation to do when taking your work to markets, especially the bigger ones. They are more like pop up shops and carrying your stock and set up to other states can be quite challenging and yet can also be quite rewarding.

What is your most cherished handmade item?

That’s not fair. I am deeply in love with all the little art creations I’ve picked up from other artists over the years.

Apart from creating things, what do you like to do?

Spend time with my family, taking the dog to the beach, listening to music, daydreaming…

Was there ever any other job you dreamed of having growing up?

No, with a mind like a butterfly, I always thought I would have a job where I could be creative.

Five years from now you will be…

Hopefully doing the same things but maybe on a larger scale.

Describe yourself in five words:

Whimsical, playful, imaginative, maternal, complicated

Carrying on with the five theme, if I were to turn on your stereo, what five artists/songs would I see on your recently played list?

David Bowie

The beatles

Gorillas

Kate Miller Heidke

Megan Washington

Lastly, do you have any advice for anyone thinking about opening their own shop or participating in craft shows?

Be yourself, be unique and keep going doing it!!

Something I have learnt from doing craft shows — Some people will not understand your work at all and will leave your stand unimpressed and vacant, that’s OK. Others will just love what you do and leave your stall thrilled, they’ve finally found you and your work! It’s exactly what they’ve been searching for! These are the wonderful people you should think of whenever you start feeling discouraged.

Do what you do because you love it and someone else will surely love it too. Just get it out there and consistently keep getting it out there.

BELINISM

Belinda has been gracious enough to give one of you lucky readers one of her prints!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

fff vol 110

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Fri, 04 Apr 2014 04:00:00 +0000

Favorite finds from the past week:

Etsy find of the week:

source

I love these vintage charts. The mister actually bought one a year ago, but we don't have it up anywhere until the house gets remodeled I just love how they pop and all the drawings, they have them of botanicals and of animals. Very cool. Check them out if you have never seen them before.

Please can I move in?

source

I know this isn't a house (I think its someone's backyard "shed") but its so awesome

Get in my belly!

source

We went out to dinner last weekend to Nolas and I cannot stop thinking about how absolutely yummy my dinner was. I don;t think I've ever gone somewhere, that nearly a week later I am dreaming about eating the same dish again! haha

This is what I had if anyone was wondering: Chicken Nola prosciutto and sage flour dredged and battered chicken breast with a lemon sauce

Tee shirt of the week:

source

Zen threads...ah I could pick out nearly all their shirts!

Random find of the week:

My friend Leigh shared this on her facebook page the other day, and it was just too awesome to not share..

"10 Things Never to say to women who don't want kids"

Number three is my favorite hahaha

3. "What do you do all day?"

This week has flown by. I cannot believe it's already friday. Lots to do in the few shot weeks we have left before markets start back up. We have some awesome new layouts and great new products. Can't wait to share all the completed products and setup with you guys. It feels like I've been talking about it forever, but things are finally almost ready and getting exciting!

Have a great weekend everyone!

bad word: Dimethicone

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Thu, 03 Apr 2014 04:00:00 +0000

Dimethicone also known as polydimethylsiloxane or PDMS

Hazard Score: (EWG Risk Score)

Three

Hazard score key:


Low hazard	Moderate hazard	High hazard

What is it?

Anti-foaming agent, Skin Conditioning Agent, Emollient, Skin conditioning, Skin protecting

Dimethicone (also known as polydimethylsiloxane or PDMS) is technically called a silicone-based polymer. What companies really like about this ingredient is that it provides a smooth application. For skin care products, it fills in uneven texture and fine lines, which helps create a smooth and flawless look in products like primers, foundations, and lotions. It also provides a protective cover on skin, which is supposed to help keep moisture in, leaving skin hydrated for longer.

In hair care products, dimethicone is used to provide smoothness, particularly in conditioners and detanglers, where the ingredient helps smooth hair and provide better comb-through. Because dimethicone leaves a sort of covering on the hair strands, it can also make hair appear shinier.

Where is it found?

It is used in sunscreen, moisturizer, shampoo, conditioner, makeup.

The Risk:
Like petroleum products, silicone oils can actually make dry skin worse over time. Instead of sinking into your skin and nourishing it from the inside out, like healthy ingredients do, it forms a sort of plastic-like barrier on the outside of skin.

That artificial coating on the outside of skin causes several issues:

It traps everything under it—including bacteria, sebum, and impurities—which could lead to increased breakouts and blackheads
The coating action actually prevents the skin from performing its normal activities—like sweating, temperature regulating, sloughing off dead skin cells, etc.
Prolonged exposure to dimethicone can actually increase skin irritation, due to the coating property and because dimethicone is listed as a possible skin and eye irritant
Those with sensitive or reactive skin are at risk of an allergic reaction to dimethicone
On top of all this, dimethicone is a non-biodegradable chemical—bad for the environment

A few companies using this ingredient:

Jason Naturals
Avalon Organics
EO
Aveeno
Almay

My Opinion:

While this ingredient may not have studies showing it is a cancer causing agent but just because it doesn't, does that mean you should be using products with this ingredient on a daily basis? Absolutely not.

If you are applying this on your skin, it's basically like placing a coat of plastic all over yourself. Non-breathable plastic. Gross! Many people will also notice an increase in breakouts. This is simply because your skin is being sealed and is no longer breathing, no longer being allowed to shed dead skin cells, no longer able to sweat, trapping bacteria..need I go on?

It's also non biodegradable. Harming the environment during production and after use.

Lastly, this says it all, "May be harmful if absorbed through the skin" according to the msds sheet

"First Aid measures:

Skin contact: Rinse skin with water/shower. Get medical attention if irritation develops and persists."

I don't know about you, but if the chemical data sheet is saying if it comes in contact with your skin to rinse immediately and possibly seek medical treatment..umm..I wouldn't be willingly lathering this garbage onto my person.

source
source

wiw vol 55 Chefs A Field

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Wed, 02 Apr 2014 04:00:00 +0000

Amazon Prime

PBS culinary show

Chefs A Field

Chefs A’ Field is an American documentary cooking series broadcast on PBS that focuses on the personal stories of farmers, fishermen, foragers and chefs, offering viewers a new way of looking at their food, environment, and community (strong focus on sustainability).

Each episode of Chefs A’ Field starts with a well-known restaurant, travels to the field and returns to the kitchen, where the ingredients are transformed into dishes on the menus of America’s finest restaurants. The audience views the chefs' interactactions with farmers and fishermen.

We found this program on Amazon prime and have been watching an episode or two each night. I love watching the chefs go to the farms and the interactions between chef and farmer. I wish more chefs and restaurants adopted this profile of getting all their ingredients locally.

We only have a few restaurants that do that near where I'm located and we went to one on Saturday night. It was the best dinner I have had out in a very long time, it was amazing. Ahhhh..I'm still thinking about it.

Shop local, eat local!

buy handmade vol 101

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sun, 30 Mar 2014 04:00:00 +0000

This week we head to Maryland..

Name: Inga Lena

Age: 35

Occupation: Artist

Etsy Shop: Absurdery

When did you start creating and how long have you been on Etsy?

I’ve been creating forever. As a child you just want to make stuff with no preconceptions and impress your parents with gifts or decorate your environment. The desire to create just hangs around and grows in artists instead of waning as they get older. So, even though I have been making art and giving it as gifts for ages I started creating things that people wanted to buy in 2009. I opened my first of several Etsy shops selling plush creatures. That’s when my hobby turned into a creative business.

How did you come up with your business name, is there any special meaning behind it?

I came up with a million horrible names and then this one that fit. A couple years ago I stopped making and selling my plush monsters to pursue art dolls and monster sculptures. I really felt at home with the name of that shop but it was too material specific, Plush Riot. So I thought and thought and wrote down lots of words that I liked and felt represented my new direction. I didn’t want it to restrict me in the future if I veered one way or the other with materials. Using my own name has not been appealing to me for whatever reason. I was looking for my ‘forever’ shop name. I came up with Absurdery, which isn’t actually a word so I got to make up its meaning. It’s a noun that means ‘an absurd or illogical object or action’. It fits because my subject matter has always been a deviation from reality.

Has your Etsy shop become your full time job? If not, would you like it to be?

It is not my full time job. I have always worked with animals, both in the veterinary field and horses, to make money. The art has always been the fun part. As we speak I am making a huge change in my life, moving with my family across the country from DC to LA. If now isn’t the perfect time to pursue my art as a career then I don’t know when it would be. I enjoy Etsy as a marketplace but would ideally see my work in brick and mortar shops as well as in more group and solo gallery shows.

How would you describe your creative process?

I see arbitrary shapes in my daily life and they spark the idea of some part of a monster. An ear or a facial expression or hand seen in a shadow or a leaf or the way food is arranged on a plate. Then I run and get my sketchbook so I don’t forget. Usually I come up with great ideas right before I fall asleep or when my sketchbook is unavailable.

My creativity itself goes through phases. There are days, weeks, when I sculpt maniacally. Other times I am in the painting zone and finish off all those creatures I just made. Then there is the marinating period when I spend most of my time mulling over ideas and sketching. It has taken a long time to become in tune with those phases and to be as productive as possible at each of those important times. I find that if I try to force one thing when my psyche wants to do something else I just end up frustrated. I know that being a full-time artist makes just listening to yourself and wandering through producing pieces impractical, but hopefully I can get those habits to work in my favor.

Where do you get your inspiration from?

I am inspired by what could be but is not. What little beasties would lurk in the forests of other planets or alternate universes? Would they bite or just rifle through your belongings? How would they move around, eat, communicate, what would their offspring look like? There is rarely a deeper meaning behind my monsters. They are simply the flora and fauna that inhabit my imagination, inspired by reality.

In other artwork, Instagram is a great place to peruse the awesome work and different methods other people use. It is always inspirational to keep going, especially if you’re banging your head against the wall.

What is your most cherished handmade item?

This is super cheesy. My 3 year old (at the time) daughter was hanging out in my studio making stuff with her kid clay. She asked if she could have 2 of the polymer teeth I keep in a jar for monsters. She jammed them into this wad of colorful clay that had 2 bead eyes and announced that she was making monsters like me. I will keep that toothy clay glob forever.

Apart from creating things, what do you like to do?

I started riding horses when I was 8. Since then I have taught riding lessons, coached a high school equestrian team, and competed in eventing and dressage. I have an 18 year old thoroughbred gelding, Duncan, who I got as a 4 year old and love dearly. Horses make me happy. I also enjoy making poop jokes, watching The Walking Dead and eating red licorice and cheese, but not at the same time.

Was there ever any other job you dreamed of having growing up?

I never had a strong sense of what I wanted to be when I grew up. I always enjoyed being with animals and making things. It was no surprise that I was drawn to the veterinary field and continued making art all the while.

Five years from now you will be…

Firmly inserted in the art world, having a solo show or two under my belt. My daughter and bun-in-the-oven will both be in school, giving me more time in the studio!

Describe yourself in five words:

Stubborn, imaginative, strong, shy, silly.

Carrying on with the five theme, if I were to turn on your Pandora, what five artists/songs would I see on your recently played list?

I tend to stream Pandora’s Indie station or The XX station, so whatever is playing there.

Lastly, do you have any advice for anyone thinking about opening their own shop or participating in craft shows?

Make what truly inspires you as weird as it may be, not what you think people want you to make.

ABSURDERY

fff vol 109

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Fri, 28 Mar 2014 04:00:00 +0000

Favorite finds from the past week:

Etsy find of the week:

source

These are amazing dishes!

Please can I move in?

source

What I would give to just live in the middle of nowhere.

Get in my belly!

source

Holy mother does this look yummy!

~~Tee shirt~~ Dress of the week:

source

This is so adorable, and the mini wiener dog on the very front chest, sells me!

I honestly cannot believe the weekend is already here. Was a very quick week, full of some disappointments and also one positive. What doesn't kill us makes us stronger and all that right?

Hope all is well with everyone! Have a great weekend, I know I need some much needed sleep!!

Bad word: Parabens

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Thu, 27 Mar 2014 04:00:00 +0000

Parabens

Hazard Score: (EWG Risk Score)

Four - Seven

Hazard score key:


Low hazard	Moderate hazard	High hazard

What is it?

Preservatives

They are listed on the label as methylparaben, butylparaben, ethylparaben, benzylparaben, isobutylparaben, and propylparaben.

Where is it found?

They are used in lotions, shampoos, conditioners, srubs, eye makeup and deodorants.

The Risk:

Endocrine disruption, developmental and reproductive toxicity, allergies and immunotoxicity

Endocrine disruption: Of greatest concern is that parabens are known to disrupt hormone function, an effect that is linked to increased risk of breast cancer and reproductive toxicity. Parabens mimic estrogen by binding to estrogen receptors on cells. They also increase the expression of genes usually regulated by estradiol (a natural form of estrogen); these genes cause human breast cancer cells to grow and multiply in cellular studies [9]. Parabens are also linked to cancer, reproductive toxicity, immunotoxicity, neurotoxicity and skin irritation [10]. Since parabens are used to kill bacteria in water-based solutions, they inherently have some toxicity to cells

A scary statistic: New research has detected the presence of paraben esters in 99 percent of breast cancer tissues sampled. In 60 percent of cases, all five esters were detected. Parabens are chemicals that have been shown to have estrogen-like properties, and estrogen is one of the hormones involved in the development of breast cancer

My Opinion:

Another chemical ingredient with many names, but all nasty little chemicals. They are also found in food preservatives as well.

As always read your ingredients list and know that anything you are putting on your hair or skin, and anything you are ingesting will be absorbed into your skin and could be potentially hazardous. Especially with build up of these chemicals over the years.

source
source

wiw vol 54 Grimm

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Wed, 26 Mar 2014 04:00:00 +0000

2011 -

Amazon Prime

Storyline

Portland detective, Nick Burkhardt, has seen some gruesome crime scenes, but nothing prepares him for the strange visions he begins seeing: seemingly regular people momentarily transforming into hideous monsters. A visit from his only living relative reveals the truth. Nick has inherited the ability to see supernatural creatures, and as a "Grimm," he is tasked with keeping the balance between mankind and the mythological. A reformed "Big Bad Wolf" becomes his greatest (and also reluctant) ally and confidant. It's not long before his work as a policeman leads Nick to the criminals he once thought were only found in fairy tales.

The mister is using Amazon Prime's one month free trial, and I have to say I'm addicted and have found some great shows. Grimm is one of those shows. Talk about an addiction. I love this show and have almost finished watching season one. Plus it has one of my favorite actors, Silas Weir Mitchell. If you have Amazon Prime - check out this show immediately!

Buy Handmade vol 100

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sun, 23 Mar 2014 04:00:00 +0000

This week we find ourselves in Austin TX..

Name: Taylor Hart

Age: 33

Occupation: Crochet Guru

Etsy Shop: https://www.etsy.com/shop/nothingbutapigeon

Tell us a little about yourself.

Jeez... it's always tough to talk about yourself. Welp... I'm originally from Columbus, Ohio. My husband Matt and I moved to Austin, Texas a little over 5 years ago and never looked back. We live in a little "hip community" on the eastside of town that is up and coming. It's really quite unique. We have a little two bedroom home with a HUGE backyard with a nice little garden and some chickens. Oh, we also have two puppies Lucy and Sophie. I taught myself how to crochet from a clever little book I bought... at the time I worked for the City as an Ambassador taking calls and had a lot of spare time on my hands so I thought it would be "neato". I picked it up really fast and started making little "plushie" toys for people around the office. Everyone really seemed to enjoy them so I started charging for them. (A girls gotta make a little cash on the side am I right?) What started as a "little hobby" turned into a small side business.... which turned into full time gig. One day the Mister and I thought it would be hilarious if I made a crochet taxidermy head for our house.... just for laughs. It turned out weirdly cute and everyone that came into our home loved it. So I took the idea and "ran with it". Now I sell in several well known boutiques around Austin and in Houston area. The business has really taken off and here I am.... enjoying every single minute of it!

When did you start creating and how long have you been on Etsy?

I've been crocheting I wanna say since 2004 and had a online store through Big Cartel but never successfully sold anything. I've been on Etsy since 2011 and it's been quite the "learning experience".... which sounds bad but it's really not. Things just take time.... I learned to have a lot of patience. Starting your own business is all about making mistakes and learning from them. Etsy is a great way to sell your handmade goods.... you just have to take time to sit down and learn the right way to utilize it. It's really a great tool to have. Social Media is a BIG part of how I get myself "out there". I swear.... half the time I'm taking photo's and posting them on either Facebook, Intagram or Google +. The other half is actually producing the work.

How did you come up with your business name, is there any special meaning behind it?

It's a sad sad story from my childhood. Ha ha! It's not really that sad.... just one of the few horriffic things that has happened to me as a young awkward pre-pubescent girl growing up in Columbus, Ohio. I'm pretty sure I was in middle school and there may or may not have been a popular rap song that was released right about this time with the lyrics containing the phrase "You ain't nothing but a Pigeon" in it somewhere..... Welp, some young man (I don't use his real name because then that would give him too much credit) came up to me on my daily walk home from school and told me "I was nothing but a Pigeon". Gasp! Now this may not seem to be a "big deal" to other people but to my young developing mind it was tramatic! I was "plain Jane". I wasn't special... beautiful or talented in any sort of way back then... well not to my knowledge I wasn't.

To my parents I was.... but that didn't matter. I wasn't an "exotic bird" of any kind.... just a dumb old Pigeon. So you see how that may have effected my character development as a young teenage girl in the early 90's. I thought it was pretty clever and quite frankly... it sound good.

Has your Etsy shop become your full time job? If not, would you like it to be?

To be honest... I think I would be scared if it did become a "full time job". I usually make the majority of my sales through the boutiques that I sell at and trade shows. I love doing trade shows.... it gets the ol' heart pumping ya know? I love to meet new people and chat with them. I like to see who I'm selling to and get to know them on a personal level. Quite often they are into a lot of the same stuff as me. Trade shows are also a good way to "open more doors". I would love to sell more on Etsy than I am now but I also have other goals that I'm striving for in the future. Maybe even in the near future. Curious? I'm actually working on a pattern book right now. It's a time sucker... but I've always wanted to publish my work. It's gonna take a lot of time.... don't hold your breath.

How would you describe your creative process?

I love being around other interesting and creative people... my husband, friends and people I surround myself with are all very talented in their own ways. They help me when I need to bounce some ideas off them... and I do the same for them. They are also really great about telling me the truth... like when my idea is a total piece of crap. They usually do it in a nice, sublte way. I also love music, movies and the outdoors. A lot of my creative process is about pushing myself to do new things as well as doing things I don't necessarily want to do. I've become very "comfortable" with being "uncomfortable". Let's face it... if I never pushed myself to do anything new or different there would be no "Nothing but a Pigeon". Everyday I try to do at least one thing out of my comfort zone whether it's business related or not. It helps develop character.

Where do you get your inspiration from?

Jeez, this is another tough one. I hate to sound like a cheese dick but my Husband Matt is a big influence on me. He is my best friend and partner in crime. Um... I love fashion. That's a big one as well. Sleep helps a lot to. You know, the older I get the more sleep plays a huge factor in my creative process. I often dream I'm crocheting... I'm not joking. I enjoy my "down time". I love to garden and play with my dogs.

Do you also sell your work at craft shows?

Yes! As I mentioned above a BIG part of my sales come from trade shows. I'm preparing for The 2014 Renegade Craft Fair SXSW Edition taking place March 13-15th. Eeeeep!

• What shows have you taken part of, and do you have a favorite?

I've participated in The Blue Genie Art Bazaar in 2012 and 2013 as well as The Cherrywood Art Fair in 2013. This March I'm showing at The 2014 Renegade Craft Fair

SXSW Edition. This is a first and I'm pretty nervous. I always get nervous before shows... it's "my thing". Austin Flea is another one I participate in quite often. I was also really into First Thursday on S. Congress.

• How long does it take you to prepare for a show? Do you have any special methods of getting ready?

Crocheting is pretty time consuming so it takes me months to prepare in advace for a show. I'm talking like 4-3 months in advance. How do I mentally prepare myself? It's quite unique really....

1. Eat right

2. Sleep a lot

3. Watch Netflix a bunch

4. Buy tons of Yarn (that's always important)

5. Have your Husband give you hand massages ever night

6. When the show gets nearer try not to freak out.

• Describe an experience from a show (good or bad) and why that pushes you to continue with your work

Oh man. So many thoughts are swirling through my head right now. I've been to some pretty disorganized shows before.... it was a mess really. Always plan on something going wrong. You just have to know that there are going to be "bumps" along the way and you have to "roll with it". Nothing is perfect and really.... why get upset about them. All you can do is take it with "a grain of salt". I've had "shipping debacles" and "crazy customers". Really crazy!!! I lost a little sleep over it and had some heartburn but I learned from each experience. I've also had wonderful shows as well! People just tend to remember the bad ones.... The point is "it's all a learning experience". You just have to "push through it" and hopefully you will make it out unscathed.

What is your most cherished handmade item?

I ended up keeping one of my first faux taxidermy heads from back in the day. The other ones I sacraficed to the Crochet Gods and harvested the yarn and polyfil for future projects... but I kept just one. It's pretty sad and pathetic but Hey, I didn't know what I was doing. I like to keep it as a remeinder of my "humble beginnings"... and it's fun to laugh at.

Apart from creating things, what do you like to do?

What don't I like to do? That may be a shorter list. I love to plant things and watch them grow. I love my chickens and my puppies. My favorite thing to do is sit outside with my Husband and watch them play. I love BBQ's with my people. I love tubing down the Guadalupe River in the Summer sipping on a nice cold brew. Music and dancing in the kitchen while I cook. I have a few dear friends that I enjoy laughing with. We understand eachother "sick sense of humour". I love to play dress up... that never gets old. I love singing in the car while I'm driving and don't care who sees it. I love cuddle time on the couch with my Husband and dogs while we watch Netflix. There's more where that came from.

Was there ever any other job you dreamed of having growing up?

When I was a wee girl I wanted to be a singer or actress. When I became older it changed to Marine Biologist.... now I don't really know. All I know is I want to be happy. I try to live everyday to the fullest and not sweat the small things. The older I get the more I realize that I may never know what I want to be and I'm okay with that.... I just want to be a good human being. In the end.... I would like to live in an airstream trailor with my Husband traveling. Living simply and off the grid as much as possible.

Five years from now you will be…

I see myself living where we are living right now. Five years actually can go by super fast! I see us with the pups hanging out having a good time. Of course I want my business to expand... but I'm not sure in what direction at this point. It's still pretty new. I do want to have a few books published by then.

Describe yourself in five words:

Oh no! Do I have to?

Kind

Sensitive

Loving

Fun

Kooky

Carrying on with the five theme, if I were to turn on your <insert whatever type of music player you use here>, what five artists/songs would I see on your recently played list?

Ha ha! This is going to really amuse some people... other people might find it quite sad.

Hall and Oats "Out of Touch"

Nu Shooz "I Can't Wait"

Wham "Everything She Wants"

Empire Of The Sun "Walking on a Dream"

Crystal Castles "Vanished"

I surprised you on those last two didn't I?

Lastly, do you have any advice for anyone thinking about opening their own shop or participating in craft shows?

Yes! If you love it do it. Learn as much as you can from other people or through your own experiences. You gotta just dive in. It's scary and you may be broke for a long time. You'll get used to it. Push yourself to try new things. Do this in a daily basis. You'll never find out what wonderful things that may come your way if you never try. It's a learning process and you will run into obsticles. Don't beat yourself up too much. Dream BIG and be positive. Get good sleep. If at first you don't succeed... you know where this is going right? Try again. You are going to make mistakes... you're human and it happens. Try not to let the little things get you down. Be excited... this is an exciting time in your life!!

Nothing But A Pigeon

fff vol 108

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Fri, 21 Mar 2014 04:00:00 +0000

Favorite finds from the past week:

Etsy find of the week:

source

beards, glorious beards..

Please can I move in?

source

Get in my belly!

source

yum, yum yum

Tee shirt of the week:

source

Good ol' Johnny..

I cannot believe how fast this year is flying by. I just sent out my applications and fees for this years markets that will start up in the next month and a half. Time has just flown and I don't ave nearly as much done as I anticipated. Time to kick it into high gear and get this stuff done!

Been working a bit of overtime at work, thinking about putting the extra $$ toward those tattoos I've been dreaming of.. we shall see. I probably will wimp out as usual.

Nothing else really exciting going on. It's spring..but well here in NY there is still loads of snow on the ground and it was snowing out on the first day.

What's new in your neck of the woods? Happy weekend! We have loads planned for this weekend, I'm really excited because we've been kept up inside for so long it will be nice to do something a little different besides going to market then hibernating the remainder of the weekend!

Bad Word: Cocamide DEA

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Thu, 20 Mar 2014 04:00:00 +0000

Cocamide DEA also known as cocamide diethanolamine

Hazard Score: (EWG Risk Score)

Seven

Hazard score key:


Low hazard	Moderate hazard	High hazard

What is it?

Surfactant, Foam booster, Emulsifyier

It is a chemically modified form of coconut oil, used as a foaming agent.

Where is it found?

It is used in shampoos, liquid hand soap, bubble bath, shavin cream, hair color and bleaching, hair relaxer, shampoo plus conditioner, lip balm, laundry detergent, soap, car cleaner!, hand wipes (the list keeps going)

The Risk:

Plan and simple - it has been found to cause cancer. This chemical also causes skin and organ toxicity.

A few companies using this ingredient:

LUSH
KMS
John Freeda
The Body Shop
American Crew
Organics by Africas Best
Rusk
Organix
Paul Mitchell
At One with Nature
MANY ETSY "Eco-Friendly" companies

My Opinion:
What is wrong with people? I am deeply offended and sickened by these companies that think because is engineered coconut oil, that they think it's organic? all natural? eco-friendly?

Companies saying things like "coconut derived". That makes it ok to use, and magically it becomes eco-friendly?

There are some days I just want to scream at the ignorance of these companies and their manipulating, word twisting ways to gain sales. I was mortified to find out just how many companies, even companies stating they are organic, that are using this chemical and passing it off as natural.

Mind bloggling!

As always, my moto - read the ingredients before buying anything that is going to be used on your person! Don't just think that because they say words like "vegan" "all natural" or "eco-friendly" that they are any of these things!

source, source

Buy Handmade vol 99

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sun, 16 Mar 2014 04:00:00 +0000

This week we head off to Los Angeles, CA..

Name: Tina Rodas

Age: 32

Occupation: Designer/ Maker of cuteness

Etsy Shop: www.hitree.etsy.com

Tell us a little about yourself.
My name is Cristina Rodas, you can call me Tina. I grew up in Jacksonville, Florida and moved to Los Angeles almost 11 years ago, although some might say I live in Tina land. Tina land is a magical forest where everyone's nice, things are sparkly, striped socks are strongly encouraged; a place where creatures and inanimate objects speak for themselves. Time is irrelevant and creativity is boundless in Tina land and I am happy to reside there. The coolest thing I ever made is the tiny person who is now not so tiny, steals my sewing supplies and eats all my food. Hazel is now almost nine years old and a contributing resident to Tina land.

When did you start creating and how long have you been on Etsy?
I started creating when I was 13. My stepmom gave me her old sewing machine and I would stay up late at night in my room making clothes for myself. After high school my sewing machine sat unused for many years until 2007 when my daughter was 2 years old. This is when I began making toys and purses just for fun. The first few pieces I made were purchased by friends right away. This is when I decided to open my etsy shop.

How did you come up with your business name, is there any special meaning behind it?
I had been making trees for a few months and racking my brain trying to come up with a name for my business. One day in my back yard my daughter noticed a baby tree that had sprouted out of the ground and immediately said "hi tree!" That's when I knew that's what it HAD to be.

Has your Etsy shop become your full time job? If not, would you like it to be?

Yes, fortunately I have been able to do what I love full time! I also freelance as an art department prop maker for commercials, movies and TV shows which is such a fun job. I am always asked to make something weird and unusual that I've never made before and It's fun to see my work on TV.

How would you describe your creative process?
My creative process is ever changing. I find structure and routine restrictive. I allow myself to be informed by the process and revel in they joy of my mistakes becoming my greatest successes.

Where do you get your inspiration from?
Mostly the internet. Thank the stars for that thing. Seriously though, pinterest can be very inspiring! I also love to go camping in Sequoia National forest once a year and come back refreshed with my mind full of ideas.

Do you also sell your work at craft shows?
I love doing shows. I spend an awful lot of time in my studio at my sewing machine making and shipping orders out. Craft shows are a great way to connect with people and to see them interact with my designs. I always learn a thing or two from the experiences. I also enjoy meeting other designers, I've made some great friends through doing various shows.

My typical shows are Unique LA, Renegade Craft Fair, Designer-Con and Patchwork. I plan on doing all of those this year again. They are my favorites.

• How long does it take you to prepare for a show? Do you have any special methods of getting ready?
This is sort of one of my quirks. I don't do a whole lot of preparing other than making product. I'll make a production schedule for myself as soon as I get the acceptance email from my prospective show. Other than that, I throw everything in the car for load in and that's that!

• Describe an experience from a show (good or bad) and why that pushes you to continue with your work
The first show I did was a festival called Lightning In A Bottle. It was pouring rain, freezing cold, and intimidating. I put my big girl pants on and was touched by the response to my work and everyone's kind words. I learned something. I'm not sure what yet, but I'll back to you when I figure it out.

What is your most cherished handmade item?
My most cherished handmade item definitely has to be this crocheted mouse my Grandma bought me at a yard sale when I was 3 or 4 years old. I have no idea who made her, but I took mousey EVERYWHERE with me when I was a child. Now she sits on the shelf in my studio. I look at her every day. She is quite tattered after 30 years.

Apart from creating things, what do you like to do?
I love cooking, I cook for my family every night. I also love to play music. I studied Cello, Bass and Piano at a preforming arts high school in my hometown. I love to obsessively crochet in"down time" and I LOVE to get lost in fun adventures with my friends. Also if there's a thrift store within a 50 mile radius of my house, I've been there. Lots of times.

Was there ever any other job you dreamed of having growing up?
Nope.

Five years from now you will be…
Hopefully, riding a unicorn off into the sunset.

Describe yourself in five words:
It's difficult for me to quantify myself so I deferred to a dear, very eloquent friend who proposed these words; vivacious, iconoclastic, approachable, sprightly, and frolicsome. I don't know what any of those words mean, but I trust that they're valid. So there ya go.

Carrying on with the five theme, if I were to turn on your <Spotify >, what five artists/songs would I see on your recently played list?
Regine Spektor, Fiona Apple, Saint Saenes cello concerto, Radiohead, and inspection 12.

Lastly, do you have any advice for anyone thinking about opening their own shop or participating in craft shows?
If you want to do something, no matter what anyone says, just keep doing it. There's no magical advice, it's dedication, diligence and research that'll get you there.

HI TREE

Photos taken by Jack Strutz: http://www.adayspent.com/hitree/

fff vol 107

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Fri, 14 Mar 2014 04:00:00 +0000

Favorite finds from the past week:

Etsy find of the week:

source

Stayed tuned, on April 6th she will be gracing us with a behind the scenes interview!

Please can I move in?

source

Get in my belly!

source

Yes, please

Tee shirt of the week:

source

Great new shirt from Threadless

Random find of the week:

source

I love this. if I was still a teenage girl. this would be the poster hanging on my door to my bedroom.

The end of another week. We got hammered here with snow this week again. Teusday it was 45 and starting to melt..Wedesday..18 more inches of snow and below zero. Welcome to New York! When will Spring come?!

This weekend we are going to be working on our "set design" for our markets. the mister has some great ideas. I'm excited to have a totally new look to our vendor space along with lots of new products. The deodorant labels are almost finished (just need to make the 2nd one for the men's line) and get those ordered this weekend. Then gotta work on packaging for my mens line. It's so crazy how you go into the winter thinking you have all the time in the world. Then all of the sudden its mif March and you have no clue where the time went!

Hope everyone is well and if you are living in the North have shoveled yourselves out (hopefully) for the last time this year!

Bad word: Aluminum Chlorohydrate

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Thu, 13 Mar 2014 04:00:00 +0000

Aluminum Chlorohydrate

Hazard Score: (EWG Risk Score)

Three

Hazard score key:


Low hazard	Moderate hazard	High hazard

What is it?

Antiperspirant Agent; Cosmetic Astringent; Deodorant Agent

Where is it found?

It is used in deodorants and antiperspirants and as a coagulant in water purification.

The Risk:

By temporarily plugging the sweat ducts, they stop sweat coming to the skin's surface. A 2005 British study, published in the Journal of Inorganic Biochemistry, found that aluminum-based compounds may be absorbed by the skin and cause estrogen-like effects. Because estrogen has the ability to promote breast cancer cells, some scientists have suggested that the aluminum-based compounds in antiperspirants may contribute to the development of breast cancer. A 2003 study in the European Journal of Cancer found that women who used antiperspirants or deodorants and who shaved their underarms at an earlier age were at greater risk for breast cancer than women who started later.

There have also been studies conducted that have advised usage is linked to increased risk of Alzheimer's disease.

A couple "natural" companies using this ingredient:

Tom's of Maine
Naturally Fresh
Jason
many small "all natural", "Eco-friendly" toting companies on Etsy

My Opinion:
Aluminum chlorohydrate also goes by a few other names:

Aluminium hydroxychloride
Aluminium chlorhydroxide
Aluminium chloride basic
Aluminium chlorohydrol
Polyaluminium chloride

The other scary factor here is that some all natural companies sell crystal deodorants and advise they are aluminum free. but this is false. Deodorant stones are made up of aluminums, simple fact. So while they may be a little better to use than a traditional anti-perspirant, it's not aluminum-free and it still poses a possible Alzheimer's risk and breast cancer risk and it contributes to toxicy in the body.

I am happy to let you all know that my all natural, 100% chemical free deodorants will be hitting the shelves very, very soon!

source

wiw vol 53 Burn Notice

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Wed, 12 Mar 2014 04:00:00 +0000

2007- 2013 - 44 minutes - TV Series

Streaming Netflix

Storyline

Michael Westen, a seasoned US spy, is suddenly 'burned', i.e. discredited, without any form of procedure. He survives by doing impossible jobs for desperate people in Miami, where his mother lives. Michael is usually aided by trusted former FBI informer Sam and his ex girlfriend Fiona.

(sorry had a hard time finding a trailer from season 1)

This show has become my new favorite "go-to" show. The mister started watching this, and then I watched one and was hooked. I love "blow 'em up" shows so this was right down my alley. It's quirky and full of explosions. We are currently on Season 3, so no one tell me any spoiler alerts (if there are any) We like to find a show that has a lot of seasons so that it will keep us entertained for a while. Have you watched it? Or did you watch it when it was on television? We haven't had tv for going on four years so we never know whats current! haha

Buy Handmade vol 98 and GIVEAWAY!!

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sun, 09 Mar 2014 05:00:00 +0000

This week we head to India..

Name: Misha Gurnanee Gudibanda

Age: 33

Occupation: Graphic Designer; Creative Director at Sky Design, Mumbai, and Creative Director at Sky Goodies, Mumbai.

Etsy Shop: www.etsy.com/shop/skygoodies

Tell us a little about yourself.
I am a Graphic Designer by profession. Along with my husband and partner, Amit, I run a design firm called Sky Design in Mumbai, India. We have a team of 9, and a homely informal and rather chaotic office in a rare quiet and green corner of Mumbai. We have a daughter who is almost 5 years old, who comes to office to play with the toys we create and to add to the chaos. I have a huge love for color and paper; both came together to create ‘Sky Goodies’.

When did you start creating and how long have you been on Etsy?
To start with, I would just like to mention that I am not the sole creator of the Sky Goodies products. I am part of a team of 4 lovely, talented and slightly mad people with fidgety fingers.

Personally, I have been making paper models and crafts since childhood. As a team, we had been working on very serious and large client and corporate projects for the past 7 years. In September 2013 we were taking a short break and we started making some paper toys and calendars. We published these on our Etsy shop in September 2013. We got a great response, so we continued making more paper toys. In all it has been just 6 months of selling on Etsy.

How did you come up with your business name, is there any special meaning behind it?
‘Sky Design’ is the brand established by my husband and partner, Amit Gudibanda, and I, in 2006 (www.skydesign.in). Later, when we wanted to create our own intellectual property, we decided to carry forward the legacy of Sky Design into the new company, by using ‘Sky’ in the name.
‘Goodies’ refers to the nature of the products we want to make; just delicious fun stuff for all ages to enjoy. ‘Goodies’ is also a pun on our surname ‘Gudibanda’, as my husband and I are called ‘the Goodies’ by our friends.

Has your Etsy shop become your full time job?
Not yet.

If not, would you like it to be?
Yes, we are working towards it becoming half our job. The other half of our time is devoted to making and publishing video games. This is also a new venture, and Amit’s life-long dream, and our first game will be hitting the iTunes and Google stores in a few months.

How would you describe your creative process?
Normally for design projects, we follow a strict process. But for the Sky Goodies products, it is more of an explorative process. We have brainstorming sessions to discuss ideas, but more often than not, ideas are triggered by an image or a view or a random conversation, rather than a discussion. We put together our ideas, and shortlist ones which would fit into our brand and qualify as ‘goodies’. Then we start executing ideas. Sometimes it can be a quick process to turn an idea into a finished product. For some products, we explore many alternatives till we arrive at the best solution.

(the development of a geometric paper easter egg.)

Where do you get your inspiration from?
The biggest inspiration for us is the country and city we live in, which is full of color, traditional and pop art and patterns. Some of our products are decorated with Indian Pop / Street Art style graphics. We had been documenting the vanishing art of hand-painted trucks in India for the past few years, just for ourselves. A lot of the colors, textures and patterns are derived from this art form.

Do you also sell your work at craft shows?
We have just finished mass-publishing all the paper toys, in the form of pre-printed, pre-creased and pre-cut ready-to-assemble kits. We have applied to some exhibitions in India and will be starting to tour exhibitions with our products very soon. These will soon also be available on www.skygoodies.co

What is your most cherished handmade item?
My personal favorite from our shop is the Colorful Typewriter Calendar. I love charming old vintage objects. I spent a large part of my childhood hammering away on an old typewriter in my father’s office. I wish I could have a typewriter sitting on my desk, but sadly typewriters are not so useful any more. So this Typewriter Desk Calendar is a good alternative and it makes me smile. The Typewriter Calendars also became the best-selling products in our shop, and were featured by the Etsy blog, babble.com andthisiscollosal.com, among others.

Apart from creating things, what do you like to do?
I like to go on road trips with my husband and daughter. We love exploring new places. We love the outdoors, especially cooking outdoors, even in the midst of rain. As a teenager I went for many treks in the Himalayas, and hope to be able to go again soon, when my daughter is a little older.

I love singing and reading. My favorite books are children’s stories; I love their innocence and imagination.

I also spend a lot of time as a practitioner of Nichiren Buddhism; as part of this practice I love meeting people and sharing our experiences and struggles.

Was there ever any other job you dreamed of having growing up?
Yes, strangely, my only ambition for most of my life was to be a pilot in the navy. I wanted to fly, spend a lot of time outdoors, and I wanted to serve my country. But fate had other things in store, and I am not complaining at all! I was too short to become a pilot, so I chose design school instead, as art was my other passion.

Five years from now you will be…
Very rich! 
Jokes apart, I want to be able to really contribute to society. Make a difference in some small way. I have started working towards this, and in 5 years I hope I can look back with some satisfaction.

Describe yourself in five words:
Crazy
Intelligent
Restless
Energetic
Dreamer

Carrying on with the five theme, if I were to turn on your iPad and Bose, what five artists/songs would I see on your recently played list?
‘Windmills of your mind’ by Noel Harrison (soundtrack of the Thomas Crown Affair)
‘Elderly woman behind a counter in a small town’ by Pearl Jam
‘Moment of surrender’ by U2
‘The scientist’ by Coldplay
‘I’ll take the rain’ by REM

Lastly, do you have any advice for anyone thinking about opening their own shop or participating in craft shows?
Do what you love.

In Etsy, my experience has been that the more one interacts with the community by creating treasury lists, viewing other people’s work and appreciating it, participating in teams, etc, the more traffic comes to your page.

Creating a continuity in products and brand image is also important.

SKYGOODIES

With Spring right around the corner, Misha would like to give one lucky reader a set of three flower pots!

a Rafflecopter giveaway