Getting in the Christmas Spirit

I know it is a little early to be decorating for christmas.This weekend my husband and I started christmas shopping.I guess from all the shopping and hearing christmas music and seeing children seating on santa's lap got to us.We Put up our big Christmas tree and for the first time this year I made a craft tree for my studio.I love it tell me what you think.

Here is our big Christmas tree:


Here is my craft tree,It has everything you would ever need to card make(will most of it lol)

Feature blog on 13MoonsArt

1)How did you first hear about Etsy?:

I belong to a yahoo group for mosaic artists, MAO, and I started noticing that a number of the members had Etsy accounts, so I clicked on several of their links and checked out their shops. After reading in a few posts that the other artists considered their experience with Etsy a positive one, I decided to take the plunge.

2)Tell us about a little about yourself and your favorite craft/art!:

Though I spent 10 years as a reading teacher, and I am also a poet and small time poetry editor, I have always liked to make things by hand. I took a number of community art classes as a child, and when I and my sister were having babies I went through a mad quilting craze, mostly turning out baby quilts.

I always enjoy designing and working on mosaics, and just the last few weeks I have been really getting into painting again, leaving a mosaic 3/4s finished on the kitchen table while I run out to the deck to play with all the paints. Of course, I woke up Sunday morning with ideas for a new series of collages combining painting, photography and collage in my head and spent a 2 1/2 hour car trip sketching out ideas.

In connection with my recent painting spree, I just opened a second etsy shop for fine art: www.AnitaBarnard.etsy.com.

3)How did you get started as a designer?:

I have always designed something: quilts, mosaics, the building of my deck, my garden, paintings and collages.

I was doing mostly mosaics a few years ago when I got a pretty little bracelet from a friend for Christmas. I looked at it and thought, I can do this. Then started wildly ordering semi-precious beads online. That can get dangerous!



4)What inspires you to create?:

Just the world around me: the way things grow: vines and leaves, architecture, colors, the work of other artists, thoughts about poetry, myths, stuff happening in my life, and the natural beauty in the stones and glass, etc in my jewelry and mosaics.

5)How do you get the word out about your shop and Etsy?:

I have only had the shop for a month, so mostly by word of mouth, but I also write about what I am doing with my art in my blog. www.13moonsart.blogspot.com And I have a small Etsy mini on the blog showing some of my items. I also participate at least a little in the Etsy forums. I am thinking of ordering a set of the little Moo business cards that some of the other Etsy artists have; they're pretty cute.

6)Any advice you would give to aspiring designers?:
Do what you love to do. It's not worth it if you don't get some personal satisfaction from it.

Don't get discouraged if success isn't immediate.

Learn something about the business aspect of being an artist or craftsman and about promoting yourself...which I am trying to learn about now.

Connect with other artists in your medium and others, online and in your community if possible; the support and dialogs are great; they really understand what you are struggling with and what you are excited about.




Don't forget to check out 13Moonsart's shop:
www.13Moonsart.etsy.com

New to shop!!!

Tired of giving a gift card in the usual way in an envelope, or just handing it to someone? Here is something new and fun.
This ornament is made of heavy card stock and red and white polka dot designed paper.Ornament is sewn together.The gift card holder also features a pull top that slides the gift card in and out of the ornament.On the inside I have added a piece of two way tape so you can attach the gift card to it .To keep your gift card in place .
This is a unique, fun way to present a gift card!
The ornament measures at 51/2 inches tall
Keep checking back to my shop.To see more new and fun ways to give gift cards.
custom orders are welcome,if you need more than one holder contact me on etsy and I can help you by giving you a discount.


Link to my shop is on the right hand side on my blog click the dog card.

New in my Etsy shop

Everyone has been asking for card bundles and here it is.Christmas card bundle of 8 different chrsitmas cards.



Christmas Take out gift boxes will be up later this week.
Sale on single cards are still going on see shop announcement.
Etsy shop link:
www.devinprather.etsy.com

Feature blog on Bddesigns

1)How did you first hear about Etsy?: I was toying with the idea of buying a spot on a wedding website after being contacted at a show about doing so. It was SOOO expensive. So I talked with a friend that owns a local printing business (who was also contemplating joining this wedding website) and she said, you know what, why don't you check out Etsy.com and see if THAT site is right for you. It's less of an initial investment....and the rest is history!!!

2)Tell us about a little about yourself and your favorite craft/art!:

My name is Christen Largent. I live west of Toledo, Ohio in the middle of nowhere called Monclova — it’s not a town, it’s a township. I am married to a wonderful man and this year we celebrated our 15th year of marriage!! I can’t believe it! I have 2 awesome kids - Meghan and Liam. I am a metalsmith...I make jewelry out of raw materials (sheet, wire and tubing) using traditional metalsmithing techniques. I’m a member of the Etsy Street Team ‘AJC’ (Art Jewelry Collective) and a newly formed team MSIA (Metalsmiths In Action) and my Etsy Shop is http://bddesigns.etsy.com

3)How did you get started as a designer?:

I have always designed something...in my family, if you can make it you don't buy it! We are a very handmade type of people! So from my youngest memory, I can recall making things with my grandma, planting flower beds with my mom (a lot of design goes into the creation of an eye-pleasing flower bed!!), etc.

From there it was cross stitch and scrapbooking/layout design and then wireworked jewelry and then finally metalsmithing...which began after much urging from my father (who did some metalsmithing in highschool) a few years ago!


4)What inspires you to create?:

Everything...I am WAY too observant. My brain is always going. I also have a very vivid photographic memory...so my brain is always taking "snapshots" and they get jumbled up there and come out if various forms in my work!

5)How do you get the word out about your shop and Etsy?: I do 4 major art shows per year and I hand out THOUSANDS of business cards during those shows! I am a firm believer in the power of an attractive, professional business card! I get a lot of local support of my Etsy store from handing out those business cards!

6)Any advice you would give to aspiring designers?: There is a certain amount of designing that you will naturally do for "sales"...things that you know will sell, but are very unfulfilling to create. That's fine...but be sure to take some time to create just for YOU...for what inspires you and gets you jumping out of bed in the morning in anticipation of what will happen that day!!

Check out bddesigns shop:www.bddesigns.etsy.com

In the Holiday spirit

Yesterday My husband and I started our Christmas shopping.All the stores and malls have there Christmas decorations up and its not even Thanksgiving yet.Thats just CRAZY!!!!We went to the craft store and bought all the materials we needed for our Christmas cards.When we got home from a fun filled day of shopping we decided to get started on our Christmas cards.2 hours later we had all of our card finished and ready to be sent out in the next couple weeks.Here is a picture of the finished card!!!

You can't really see it in the picture but the caption on the front reads: "It's the most wonderful time of the year." the inside reads "Merry Christmas"
I am hoping to have some new kinds of Christmas cards and bundle card sets (bundle card sets includes miss you, thanks you , love you, happy birthday cards etc int them)up in the next week or so.

Etsy Mail

I received my Soap sampler from Sea Sprite Soaps.The soap sampler comes with 16 sample size of homemade soaps for only $9.00.

The soaps were very well packed and wrapped very pretty.

She also gave me a couple extra samples and a Ginger Peach Lip balm (The lip balm is awesome it tastes and smells Great!!!)

Here are all the different scents of soap I got:
Blood Orange Patchouli
Celtic Moonspice
Cranberry Orange Marmalade
Cuppa Chai
Gardenia
Pinapple
Iced Gingerbread
Ginger Orange
Lemon Verbena
Lilac
Oatmeal Milk & Honey
Plumeria
Plumberry Spice
Tassie Lavender
Wild Honeysuckle
Patchouli Amber
Polar Express
Rosemary Mint
Chocolate Amber
They all Smell and Look Great. i can't wait to try them out.I give this shop a A+.Very quick shipping and Makes a great quality product.Well be back to shop in her shop very soon.
Check out her shop here:www.seaspritesoaps.etsy.com

A few of my Favorite Things....

I thought I would share with you a few items That i have found that I just love.


Life's Joy print by mixed media artist June Pfaff Daley: $18.00 www.junepfaffdaley.etsy.com


Corduroy dog coat (3 Sizes) (Personalized Free)$20.00
www.heartfelt3.etsy.com


Soap Sampler, 16 Kinds of Handmade Soap (I bought this!!!)$9.00
www.seaspritesoaps.etsy.com

Hand Painted and Personalized Frame (Paisley Floral)$14.99
www.nsteve0996.etsy.com


Custom Boutique Crochet Miss Mouse Hat Any size $25.00
www.pinkalligator.etsy.com


One Less Plastic Bag Tote - Handpainted
www.CarryMeAway.etsy.com

Check out this wonderful shops and Items:0)
I hope I get some of these Items for Christmas:0)

What i bought at Itybitybags

I wanted to share with your something I found and fell in love with on etsy.I bought this hat, mitten an scarf set from Itybitybags.As soon as I saw them on her shop I had to have them.The Scarf is made from cream knit, Mittens are made from recycled sweaters, and the Hat is made out of cream knit.There are very well made and they are Super warm and super stylish.I had a never had a hat , mittens and scarf that kept me so warm.Itiybitybags has some other super cute items.You should totally check out her shop.She is now one of my top shops on etsy!!!!



Check her out you wont be disappointed:
www.itybitybags.etsy.com

Sale in shop To go on Until Dec 1

*~Buy two cards and get a free card (of your choice) or set of gift (of choice) Until Dec 1 ~*
So get those Chrsitmas cards and tags Early.
All cards can be made into card set you can mix and match for only $8.00 dollars
Card set are perfect for a small gift to your mail carrier, hair dresser, Nanny,babysitter, Employer, Boos etc.. Also they are great stocking stuffers.
Don't forget to get gift take for all of your gift giving needs.
If i don't have a card or set of tags you are looking for ,Just ask i will be glad to make it for you (with no extra cost)
All tags can be made into a set of 10 for $5.00
If you are interested in the sale please make sure your write in buyers message your free item of choice Thanks!!!
Please check out my shop :
www.devinprather.etsy.com

Thanks fro looking and have a wonderful day:0)

Don't forget to Vote tomorrow

Lovie is are you?

A trip down memory lane...

If you all don't know already, I am a huge Disney fan.My first trip to Walt Disney world was when I was two year.I have been hooked since.I have made 8 trip to Walt Disney since then.For my husbands and I's Honeymoon we went to Disney.I am having withdraws,I need my Disney fix lol.If you have never been, It is will worth the money.You will feel Like a little kid again and it bring family's so close together.If I could work at Walt Disney I would.Here are a few Disney songs from the 4 parks and Parades!!!
If you have been you probably already know these songs(but i hope it brings back magical memories.....

Feature Blog on Mvincent

1)How did you first hear about Etsy?:
One day I just googled something handmade I was looking for and an Etsy listing showed up. I browsed around and become a member of Etsy first as a buyer, and then eventually as a seller (: I've always loved to buy and make (and now sell) handmade things!

2)Tell us about a little about yourself and your favorite craft/art!:
I'm 21 years young. I live in Tampa with my boyfriend of three years and our cute kitten, Begeara. My main craft is handmade jewelry, which I sorta picked up on a whim. Sometimes I like to make big, chunky pieces and sometimes I want to very minimal pieces. I have recently rekindled my love of crocheting (and sometimes knitting) and all credit goes to my grandmother who taught me. I do little crafts here and there, like painting, drawing, sewing, building, writing, cardmaking, etc.

3)How did you get started as a designer?:
I'm from a crafy family, so I grew up crafting in all sorts of mediums. As for my jewelry, I originally made it just for myself because I could never seem to find anyhting in stores I liked enough to purchase. Then friends and family wanted in, and they were the ones who encouraged me to open my shop (:



4)What inspires you to create?:
My my family and late uncle inspire me to create, as in the verb, the action. My uncle came up with this handmade Christmas gifts idea when I was very young. The whole family participated, and the only rule was if you were physically able to do so, you must have handmade each item you gave! Even though he passed eleven years ago, most of us still handmake our gifts (: My family keep my motivated to keep creating. As for inspiration for my pieces themselves... Sometimes I can just stand in a bead store, stare at the walls, and bead combinations jump off the racks and into my head. Sometimes I will find a few charms that help me decide what matching colors or shapes of beads to use. Sometimes I see something in nature and I search the stores until I can make something to recreate that scene. And sometimes, it's just a word that inspires me (:

5)How do you get the word out about your shop and Etsy?:
I blog (http://manniemandiblenews.blogspot.com), I post and participate as much as I can in the Etsy forums/threads, I am apart of the EtsyFriends Team (search "etsyfriends"), I get in touch with people who are doing art/craft/etc shows to see if I could mail them some of my promos to give out, I look for opportunities to get featured on fellow etsians blogs/websites, and I hand out my own business cards when possible. I am also looking in to starting up jewelry home parties!

6)Any advice you would give to aspiring designers?:
Follow and create from your heart, not necessarily the trends (:


Check out here shop:www.Mvincent.etsy.com

Getting ready for the Holidays

I am already getting ready for the holidays.My husband and I have already made out our Christmas list for each other and our family's.Last week we got our pictures taken for our Christmas cards.Which I am going to have to start making soon if I want them to be done on time.Its November 1st and I am already doing such for Christmas That just nuts!!!
Here is our picture we are using for our cards:0)

Glendale recap

Sorry it has taking me so long to post these pictures from Glendale.Most of you already know on October 18th I had a booth at Glendale's big crossing festival.Over all we did pretty will, not as good as I hoped, but not bad. I got a few custom orders and tired and get my name out there.I can't wait to do it next year.Thanks to everyone who came out and supported me:0)