Etsy Gems!

moving;

2009-10-22T12:46:00.002-04:00

Hey everyone! Just a quick post to let you know that I've moved! No offense to Blogspot, I still have a warm, squishy place in my heart for you, but I've already got 3 blogs on Tumblr so it just made sense. I hope you can understand.

Etsy Gems!

^^ Go there! Follow! Check back daily! Or semi-daily! Monthly! WOO!

Thing I Am Currently Lusting Over - Mermaid World print by jewelkrug

2009-04-20T08:26:00.003-04:00

This "Mermaid World" 8x10 by Julie Kruger of jewelkrug. I am all about photographs that make you feel as if you're spiraling through some kind of awesome dream. You know, one of those dreams that you hate to wake up from ... you're shaken awake by your boyfriend, or the sun comes in through the shades, and you have that moment of "wait -- NO!!!" and you try your best to lay as still as you can as squeeze your eyes shut but it's all in vain. This is what this print is to me. Amazing that all of that, all those feelings and memories, could be embodied in just 8 inches by 10 inches. Kudos to you, Julie!

Thing I Am Currently Lusting Over - REBECCA AND TABEA print

2009-03-23T08:49:00.003-04:00

Um, YES. This print by Dilkabear is just fantastic. Their matching-but-not-quite-matching shirts, the different sized stripes, the rainbow hair, their messy bangs, the muted-yet-totally-remind-me-of-a-snowcone colors! Plus it's only $16 so go snatch one up -- it's a limited edition of 50! The rest of her shop is equally gorgeous, featuring many more pensive, contemplative, somewhat secretive girls.

Thing I Am Currently Lusting Over - Small Yellow Paper Bowl

2009-03-12T11:21:00.002-04:00

This bowl, created by upintheairsomewhere, is basically the embodiment of spring to me right now. What could be more perfect than such a delicate, airy bowl? All crisp around the edges and practically glowing from the inside from the vivid yellow. It's about 4 inches across and 1.5 inches high, so it'd be perfect to hold all my random crap -- a couple keys, earrings, tiny folded-up to-do lists, chapstick. But really, I would almost prefer to leave this bowl on its own, with none of my nonsense inside it, so its beauty would be uninterrupted.

Thing I Am Currently Lusting Over - Elegant Zipper and Wool Necklace

2009-03-11T13:12:00.004-04:00

Honestly, could this be any more awesome? This is a creation I NEVER would've thought to do, but the lovely lady of londicreations did. I just love how colorful and bright and happy it is ... and the zipper adds a badass edge to the whole thing (literally and figuratively). It's whimsical, it's daring, it's girly with a dark side ... I love it. Head over to her shop to check it, and other creations in her Zip It collection, out -- and if you're in the New York area, check out her work IN PERSON at Genuine Artikle on March 28th, 2009!

Wedsite!

2009-02-18T12:38:00.003-05:00

Me & the boy. :)

As you probably DON'T know, my boyfriend of over 3 years, Nate, proposed to me about a month ago! We are getting married September 12th, 2009, on Long Island, Maine & we're super excited. To show my excitement (and way, way too much information) to the world, I've started a WEDSITE ! The information will mostly be boring to non-family/friends but the photos will be awesome, so check it out. :)

Thing I Am Currently Lusting Over - Train Hoops

2009-02-05T11:15:00.003-05:00

I know what you're thinking right now: how could I possibly be more awesome? How it is that I manage to still function in my day-to-day life & STILL give energy to being so damn cool? It's a question that may never be answered. But really, I'm not THAT cool - I'm not even the one who made these earrings! dmdmetal is - these amazing, fully customizable hoops depict a dude graffiti'ing the side of a train car. Oh yes. And that dude can be spraypainting whatever you want! You can express your love, your political choice, what you had for lunch... anything you want! So amazing. Go sell your first born & then grab a pair for $195 (eek).

interview with johnclark !

2009-02-02T09:33:00.004-05:00

Oh yes. I got to interview John Clark of johnclark this time (how much more redundant can I be?). 'Twas awesome! I have admired his work for a long while now & how could I not? Any combination of books (mmm... books...) & black Sharpie is bound to be good. I think the kicker for me is not only the womens' faces... the sometimes seductive poses, biting their fingers, lookin' all vulnerable & introspective... but the one single word or phrase that is left uncovered. It's like a secret that you're not supposed to see, something that should be hidden but somehow escaped. It's a little bit dirty & a little bit exciting & really amazing that such feelings could be evoked by such a simple act.

where do you live & how do you like it there?
Ann Arbor, MI. I love it. There’s enough hustle and bustle that I don’t get bored, but it’s not obnoxiously packed. It’s a great city to walk around and it always feels safe.

what celebrity would you most like to have your work hanging in their home?
Bill Murray

what is the first thing you remember creating?
It was a huge multi-page mural on newsprint with a good friend of mine in elementary. The piece was titled “mars vs usa.” I drew the martians and he drew the us military. It got pretty out of hand.

if you had to use only one word to describe yourself what would it be?
Calm

what are your favorite bands/books/movies/tv shows?
Bands I’m currently listening to: Beirut, Bon Iver, the Fleet Foxes, David Dondero, The Go Go’s, Okkervil River, Titus Andronicus, Tv on the Radio, The Black Lips, Black Mountain
Fav books. Anything by Daniel Quinn.
Fav movies. Anything by the Coen Brothers. Dr. Strangelove, Roadhouse, Groundhog Day, Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, The Professional, Sin City, Angel-A.
Tv: House, The Office, Dexter, Project Runway.

what do you do for your "real job" ?
I sell electronics.

what is your biggest pet peeve?
Rudeness, poor customer service.

what is your favorite curse word?
I love them all equally.

what is your favorite item of your own creation?
I made a pretty large painting of a girl holding a gun while cornered. It sold and I didn’t even get a good picture of it before I had to send it out.

if you could have dinner with anyone at all, living or dead,
who would it be & what would be served?
My girlfriend, Andrea. It wouldn’t matter what we ate as long as we cooked it.

who is your favorite person in the whole wide world?
My girlfriend and my folks.

what would people be surprised to learn about you?
I have a silly amount of knowledge about comic books. I spent most of the nights of my adolescence in punk rock clubs.

what are your favorite Etsy shops?

MATTY8080
Meeting Neil Is Easy
mixedspecies
Jennifer Maestre
thecuriousgirl
aorta

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seriously, skip on over to this shop & check things out. he has over 70 original pieces of work for you to browse & he welcomes custom work which is the obvious choice. his prices range from $10 to $100 so you certainly have your options of what to spend. DO IT. GO. NOW. because really, all books SHOULD have pictures.

interview with staceywinters!

2009-01-26T11:47:00.002-05:00

This interview, with Stacey of stacywinters, highlights one of the most interesting & charming shops I've seen on Etsy thus far! Her style is very vintage - duh, she takes photos of vintage items - but also the overall style of her cards & her general eye for photography. It makes me wish I had a treasure trove of vintage goodies to photograph! Here goes:

where do you live & how do you like it there?
I live in Southern California and like it very much. The only complaint would be that there are too many sunny days and not enough sweater days.

what would people be surprised to learn about you?
People might be surprised to know I enjoy doing a lot more than just photography, hoping to expand the shop a bit in 2009.

what superpower would you most like to have?
If I could have a superpower it would be to become invisible, if that is even considered a superpower.

if you could have dinner with anyone at all, living or dead, who would it be &
what would be served?
It would be wonderful to have dinner with my Gramma, now that she is gone and I am older I think it would be so great to hear stories about her life and about my mom when she was growing up. I would make spaghetti squash and apple pie for the both of us.

what do you do when you're not taking photos & crafting?
When I'm not taking photos or crafting I am sleeping, reading, baking, watching movies, cuddling with my dog, Hermie, and thinking about how to begin cleaning out the garage.

what is your favorite item of your own creation?
My very favorite item of my own creation is the Oh Deer photograph, he marks the beginning of my Etsy shop and was purchased by my mom at an estate sale for 25¢.

what are your favorite websites?
My favorite websites/blogs are:
Design*Sponge
a photo a day
shimandsons
The Peach Tree
tiny happy
Lineanongrata
Gluten-Free Girl
&
Perez Hilton
(he is always the first to know celebrity gossip)

what is your biggest pet peeve?
My biggest pet peeve is loud chewing.

if you had to listen to the same song over & over for 12 hours straight,
what song would you choose?
If I was forced to listen to the same song for 12 hours straight it would be Haiti by Arcade Fire, hopefully I wouldn't be sick of it though, I love it very much!!

what do you do for your "real job" ?
My real job used to be teacher and is gradually transitioning into photographer.

what are your favorite bands/books/movies/tv shows?
bands: newest favorite is The National, favorite song right now from them is Fake Empire.
books: mainly nonfiction, loved Into the Wild long before it became a movie.
movies: just discovered Slumdog Millionaire and it quickly moved into my top 10.
tv shows: Amazing Race, Top Chef and Summer Heights High.

what celebrity would you most like to purchase your items?
It would be lovely if Jennifer Garner purchased an item from my shop.

what are your favorite Etsy shops?
My favorite Etsy shops are:
estasketch
Sasha Bell Jewelry
stelabird
Pressa Russa
My little bird
&
e.soule

Seriously... her shop has GREAT prices (8x8 photograph on metallic paper for $12!), it's all super cute & do you really need an excuse to buy adorable cards? She also sells prints, ribbon ornaments, pins, notebooks, gift tags & photo scraps! You can also browse through her daily photo blog, filled with delightful little snippets from her everyday life! Enjoy!!

interview with lyptis!

2009-01-19T07:18:00.002-05:00

My featured seller this time around is a lady named Franziska -- better known as lyptis. Her store is filled with hand-sewn clothing, all women's t-shirts & dresses, as well as a small heart-shaped pin (adorable) & an interesting addition -- tiny baby mice brooches! Honestly, those (and her Tourette's shirt) are what drew me to her shop in the first place. Her style is extremely relaxed & casual... dresses (for the most part) that you could run around & play in. She uses vintage & new materials to create her clothes & finds the process quite liberating. :)

where do you live & how do you like it there?

Hi, my name is Franziska and I live in Melbourne, originally I'm from Germany, and I have been living in Australia for 2.5 years now. It took some time to get used to, but I definitely like the mild weather and the laidbackness of the country.

what celebrity would you most like to wear your items?

I think celebrities are overrated! But if I'd have to pick one, it would have to be Angelina Jolie, she gets a lot of coverage and she is kinda eco..

if you had to use only one word to describe yourself what would it be?
Cool.

where does your username come from?
My username is lyptis - it comes from the eucalyptus tree. I really love nature and walks and I love trees. The eucalyptus tree is special coz it smells so nice, it's always green, it's quite tough, but graceful.

in what way has your location influenced your art?
I guess living in a warmer country I can wear more summery clothes, so I can wear dresses all year round. Also, the sun inspires me to use more brighter/happier colours and I like shooting photos outside, just anywhere nice really.

what are your favorite bands/books/movies/tv shows?
I only listen to classic radio in my car, I like Seinfeld, I hate hollywood movies - most of them are shallow and don't make sense. I love movies in general, don't get me wrong, but I tend to forget. I watched ‘Long Good Friday’ recently and it had some good scenes in it, loved the ending, but it was very creepy!

what do you do for your "real job" ?
This is my real job!

what is your biggest pet peeve?
Stupid people

what is your favorite item of your own creation?
70's Garden Party Dress

what's your favorite childhood memory?

I guess playing with my friends, hiding somewhere under the trees, building cubby houses..

if you could have dinner with anyone at all, living or dead, who would it be & what would be served?
If it had to be someone famous it would have to be Coco Chanel, she'd have to tell me what to do to hit the style nerve of our times but stay true to myself and to make it big, of curz!
Otherwise I'm happy to just have dinner with my friends from overseas, coz I don't get to see them very often! I'd have a vegetarian roast and chocolate mousse for dessert, or something exotic..

what would people be surprised to learn about you?
I totally hate paisley fabric, urgh, it makes me shiver!

what are your favorite Etsy shops?
These are some of my cutie/pretty favourites, but usually you can throw any fabric or vintage shop at me and I'm gonna be in awe!
Alicia Bock Photography
Jennylovesbenny Bears
Allenbrite pillows

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This is what I love about this gal. She's laid-back, spunky & quirky! Check out her shop for some adorable, super comfortable-looking clothes! She is away from her shop until the 23rd but you can still shop to your heart's content! You can also visit her blog, but be warned - there's some foul language. ;)

Sans titre

2009-01-02T15:53:00.002-05:00

The Etsy item I'm currently lusting over: this 8x8 print, Sans titre, from aufilde. "Sans titre" meaning "without title" (it is also a 1997 movie directed by Leos Carax) & "au fil de" meaning "with the wire of". I mean, GOOD GOD, could it be any more perfect? The slight blur, that dreamy quality like you're either just about to drift off or just waking up from the most perfect sleep. The perfect contrast of the white dots against that velvety fuchsia. The ragged quality of the dead-looking plant against the pure perfection of that butterfly wing. Gorgeous.

interview with puffpastry!

2009-01-02T07:25:00.003-05:00

I know, you totally thought that photo above this was a real plate, covered in real flaky croissants, sticky buns & bread didn't you? You totally did. That's just how good Vivien of puffpastry is! Her store is primarily jewelry (rings & necklaces, mostly) with tiny sweets & donuts & other delightful little edibles on them. Molded from polymer clay, her stuff looks good enough to eat! Who wouldn't want to wear a necklace with a tiny plate of sushi on it? Or a necklace displaying a jar of pastel candies inside? Or a pocket mirror that looks like a miniature chocolate bar? I IMPLORE YOU! ... err, here goes. :)

where do you live & how do you like it there?
My family is in the San Francisco Bay Area, California. It's where I grew up, went to school, met my friends and fell in love with all the fun and interesting things to do and see in the region. Where else could you dance every night if you wanted to?

what celebrity would you most like to wear/use your items?
Oh my gosh it would be so hard to choose, but given the theme of my shop anybody on the Food Network, especially Rachael Ray!

if you had to use only one word to describe yourself what would it be?
Quirky.

what are your favorite bands/books/movies/tv shows?
I'm quite fond of the Dresden Dolls, the works of Edward Gorey, Tim Burton movies and Ace of Cakes.

what do you do for your "real job" ?
I'm a student at a public university. I do work in a laboratory as part of my degree requirements, but I don't get paid. Etsy is my "real job" in a way.

what is your biggest pet peeve?
People who are wasteful. I'm not a super-duper eco-freak, but it doesn't take much effort to recycle your cans, pass your old clothes to Goodwill or not take 15 packets of ketchup at the fast food restaurant.

what is your favorite snack food?
Chocolates. I'm very fond of Kit Kat bars and other kinds of candy with crunchy bits. Pocky is great, too.

who in your life has inspired you the most?
I bet everyone says this, but my Mom. She's also a crafty lady who makes jewelry.

what is your favorite item of your own creation?
My favorite item is not a part of my Etsy shop. I also make clothing, and my favorite project was a powder blue merino wool long coat, trimmed with ruffles, scalloped lace and heart buttons. Every time I wear it someone asks who the "designer" is.

what do you do when you're not crafting?
School. Lots of school.

if you could have dinner with anyone at all, living or dead, who would it be & what would be served?
I would like to have a dessert smorgasbord with the cast of Ace of Cakes!

what would people be surprised to learn about you?
My second toe is the same length as my pinky finger. (Yours might be too, check it out!)

what are your favorite Etsy shops?
At the moment I love Barefoot Bath & Body. The lady who runs it is such a sweet person with great customer service. I explained my allergies to her and I thought she was going to just point out which items in her shop were safe for me, but she made me a special batch of her products!

I mean really, it was a mistake posting this before breakfast because now I am solely craving super-duper chocolate frosted sprinkled glazed sugary donuts & we are fresh out!! I will have to settle for leftover Christmas cookies. :) Please, give this gal's Etsy shop a look, I guarantee you won't be disappointed... if anything, you'll leave hungry! You can also browse through her Flickr as well for more deliciously decadent photos!

interview with thebluebutton!

2008-12-27T17:09:00.003-05:00

This time around I got to interview Cassie from thebluebutton! Her shop is filled with delightful vintage jewelry, housewares, home decor, accessories & other little goodies. The first thing I noticed about her shop is that it's very bright & cheery... it instantly puts you in a good mood looking through her treasures. So here goes!

Where do you live & how do you like it there?
I live in Chattanooga, Tennessee with my husband Chris and my two puppies Bear and Poptart. I absolutely love Chattanooga! Most of my family lives here so I think that is what makes it so great! :)

How long have you been selling vintage & how long have you had your shop?
I started The Blue Button in July 2008. This is my very first attempt at selling vintage items but I have always had a love for them!

What draws you to certain vintage items?
For some reason I am attracted to small vintage items. I just love little trinkets!
I love looking at an item and wondering the story behind it. Was this someone’s favorite item 30, 40 or even 50 years ago?

What is the first thing you remember thrifting?
I feel like I have been thrifting all my life. When I was a child I remember going to estate and yard sales. I loved Saturday’s because that was yard sale day! I always had my Ziploc baggie full of change for all of the wonderful treasures I would find.

Which celebrity's (alive or dead) antiques would you most like to raid?
I would have to say Frank Lloyd Wright. I love love love modern design!

Where does your username come from?
I chose the name The Blue Button because I love vintage sewing items...especially buttons! I chose Robin’s Egg Blue because it is my favorite color so it just worked and felt right.

What are your favorite bands/books/movies/tv shows?
Bands: Jack Johnson, Michael Buble, Earth Wind & Fire, Coldplay
Books: The Bible and I love magazines!
Movies: Emma, Pride and Prejudice (the new one), Elf, You’ve Got Mail, My Best Friend's Wedding, 27 Dresses...I could go on and on!
TV Shows: The Office, Project Runway, Top Design, Seinfield

What is your biggest pet peeve?
I hate being cold! It just makes me mad!

What are a few of your favorite Etsy shops?
Judy Ruth - my mom’s adorable shop
lzxdesign - my husband’s graphic design shop
detailsshop
lori marie pretty little things
caramelos
Chet and Dot
Olive
fringe

What superpower would you most like to have?
I would love to be able to fly. I always dreamed of flying as a kid. I think every kid has those dreams though!

What would people be surprised to learn about you?
O.k., so don’t go spreading this around, but, I still have to sleep with a night light! I am 27 for cryin’ out loud! My husband hates it! ;)

There you have it! I can't tell you how jealous I am. To actually NEED to go scouring through piles of vintage accessories, browsing through jeweled treasures & old pyrex dishes in wonderful pastels... that would be the life! You just never know what you might find & what might be waiting for you. Go browse through her shop NOW! & snatch up some precious pins in the shape of flowers... maybe a silk scarf... or some field mouse art! Because once it's gone, it's gone!

interview with EcoKate!

2008-12-23T10:44:00.004-05:00

This time I was lucky enough to interview none other than Kate from EcoKate! She makes gorgeous reusable dishcloths, makeup removal cloths, upcycled plastic bowls & recycled plastic handbags! She has a virtual rainbow in her shop - there's something for every kitchen color scheme - as well as some fantastic color combinations. When possible, Kate uses recycled cotton yarn, organic yarn & other sustainable sources. She also reuses shipping materials when possible, creates tags from scrap paper & even powers her work area with 100% renewable energy! What a gal :)

how long have you been doing your craft, & how long have you had an Etsy shop?

I've been knitting for about 4 years now, but only figured out how to crochet in the last year or so! EcoKate has been an Etsy shop since February 2008, so it's coming up on my one year Etsyversary pretty soon!

what celebrit(y/ies) would you like to see using your items?

Thom Yorke! I love this man, his music, and the fact that he is such an awesome spokesperson for the environment. I'm constantly thrilled with what I read about Radiohead doing to make less of an impact on the earth while they tour. Although I dunno how plausible it is to think that Mr. Yorke is a dish-doer, but a girl can still dream.

in what way has your location influenced your art?

In a necessity sort of way, I'd say the fact that I live in a small apartment with no dish washer has actually influenced my need to hand wash things more often, and caused me to look into earth-friendly ways of doing so. I dunno if people would like the notion of art coming from necessity, but that's just how I was inspired in the case of my creations. And from the necessity grew my need to design cleaning cloths in an aesthetically pleasing and practical fashion.

what are your favorite bands/books/movies/tv shows?

Oh, think I already covered Radiohead, but some other great bands (and there's no way I'm naming them all so here are my current favorites) would be, The New Pornographers, Belle & Sebastian, MGMT, Spoon, Nada Surf, TV on the Radio, Black Kids, Beck. I just have to stop myself there. As far as books go, I'm very much into classical literature, i.e. the Brontes, Jane Austen, Dickens, etc. Harry Potter, most definitely and She's Come Undone by Wally Lamb, just to name a few. Movies I'm more particular about. My favorites as of now are The Big Lebowski, The Burbs, Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, Zoolander, etc... TV shows include Arrested Development, It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia, The Office, 30 Rock, Lost and mucho mas.

describe a typical day in your life!

Wake up, get the tea water going, check the internet, knit and/or crochet, work on websites, list items on Etsy, drink many cups of tea in between these activities, etc. etc. etc. It's kinda boring when I put it in writing. Yikes. I'm currently on the job hunt which I'm hoping will spice up my daily routine a bit, but we'll have to see!

what is one particular craft/talent that you're not very good at but wish you were?

Playing/writing music! I took piano lessons back in the day but I fear I just don't have the patience for sitting and playing. I much more prefer listening to wonderful music personally, which I'm quite content to do. Although every now and again I'll get the hankering to make music again, and will pick up my guitar and mess around with it until I realize I'm just not that good at it!

what would people be surprised to learn about you?

I'm way shy.

what success tips do you have for new Etsians?

Take some darn good photos. Never stop trying to improve your photos and listings in general. Look to other shops for inspiration, but DON'T copy them flat out! Come up with your own style. Oh, and list often.

Seriously, this lady's shop is the place to go for some darn adorable little cloths. No more using paper towels & throwing them out by the handful! No more dirty, bacteria-breeding sponges just waiting to crawl across the sink! Just some brightly colored, happy-inducing little cloths that you can simply toss in with the laundry. Amazing. & it doesn't end there... Kate also runs two other shops: ShutterKate ("Handmade Accessories for the Fashionably Adventurous") & KnitStorm (primarily iPod cozies as well as knitted key fobs). You can also receive shop updates by following her on Twitter, or you can browse around her blogs: Eco Craftiness & KnitStorm. She also manages EcoEtsy's blog! What can I say? She's a busy lady. How she managed to squeeze in an interview with me is beyond my comprehension, but I thank her. :)

interview with ojmjakon!

2008-12-03T09:13:00.007-05:00

this time I had the pleasure of interviewing Duncan Binet-Fauvel, better known as ojmjakon. born in England & living in Wales, he has been taking photos since he was 15 (much like me!). he has some really amazing stuff - his photos seem to capture moments that would've otherwise gone unnoticed. he's able to see things in these little vignettes that the rest of us probably wouldn't even blink an eye at - that is, until we see his prints. here goes :)

how long have you been taking photos, & how long have you had an Etsy shop?

I’ve been taking photos since roughly the age of 15, but I had used disposable cameras before then as a kid. I remember taking some of animals at the zoo with my brother as a very small child, and I loved being able to look through them again when I got home. There’s something really enthralling about capturing that moment forever, and I will never lose that passion for beauty and spontaneity. I’ve had an Etsy shop since March 18, 2008, and I love it!

what kind of camera do you use & what's your dream camera?

I use 2 cameras primarily, a Canon G9 and Canon 10D. I want to use my film cameras more, but as a student my funds are very limited and as such I find it hard to finance the film and processing. My dream camera could be any one, really. I want to express the feeling of the moment, and I know I could do that with any camera you gave to me. I see the most important aspect of photography as the subject, not the camera itself.

in which celebrity's house would you most like to see your work hung?

Michel Gondry, one of my favourite directors. I love the way he sees and captures the world on film.

what is the first thing you remember photographing?

Probably my first cat, Snowzy, who was incredibly patient. I remember following her around the garden with a disposable camera, snapping happily away.

where does your username come from?

Ojmjakon, a Russian village. I chose it as I have always been fascinated by the area’s people and landscape. It is one of the coldest permanently inhabited places on Earth and somewhere I would absolutely love to visit, albeit prepared to freeze!

what are your favorite bands/books/movies/tv shows?

I have quite an eclectic taste in all four! Some of my favourite bands and musicians are ELO; Genesis; Stevie Wonder; Black Sabbath; De La Soul; Moby and Aesop Rock. My favourite book without a doubt is The Hobbit which I have read and read again since I was very young. I am a huge fan of Roald Dahl also and many of his stories have stayed with me since childhood. My favourite movies are Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind; The Shining; Flight of the Navigator; Back to the Future; Friday Night Lights and Seven. I enjoy 80’s blockbusters a little too much.

in what way has your location influenced your art?

I was brought up in quite an industrial area in South Wales, but with plenty of countryside within easy reach. We would often visit my Grandpa in the South of England as a family, and I remember the rolling hills and scent of bonfires very clearly. I am influenced by both nature and industry in equal measure, and I think that this gives my photography a unique flavour. Both are beautiful in their own right, but my heart definitely belongs in the wild.

what do you do when you're not taking photos?

I chill out and listen to music mostly. I enjoy people’s company, and I love my friends and family loads. I have recently begun a course in Fine Art at Hereford College of Art in England, and I am having a lot of fun. I have started binding my own books, and I hope to start experimenting with other new ideas very soon.

seriously, do ME a favor & browse through this incredible shop. I always consider myself lucky in a way to stumble upon shops like this one -- I'm so enthralled with the artist that it's almost like trying to send a convo to a celebrity. exciting! his prints are categorized by color (neat!) & he offers a wide range of sizes, so no matter what wall space you're trying to cover, he can accomodate :)

interview with pazsint!

2008-12-01T07:31:00.006-05:00

You must all know right off the bat how truly rare it will be for me to showcase a photographer on here. Not because I dislike photography -- quite the opposite, actually, I love it deep down to my bones -- but because I myself am a photographer. I use that title loosely - it generally comes accompanied with words like 'unprofessional' or 'amateur' & to some people it immediately prompts arguments of "anyone who owns a decent camera calls themself a 'photographer'" which is not only ignorant but... well, no, it's just ignorant. But I am one. It's what I do. It's what I've wanted to do for a long time, what I've been doing for years & what I want to continue doing as long as I live. So, I am generally quite critical of fellow photographers but man,
is this guy good.

He's Nathan Pazsint from Cary, North Carolina. By far the most laid-back person I've interviewed so far. That combination of silky smooth nonchalance paired with obvious, simmering passion is pretty rare. His work is raw and gritty, brutally honest, provocative, disturbing, sexy... all with some naive innocence bubbling just beneath the surface. Onward:

how long have you been taking photographs, & how long have you had an
Etsy shop?

Well, I’ve been taking pictures for about 20 odd years now, ever since my parents bought me a black and red Polaroid 600 Instamatic to use at summer camp as a kid. I tortured my camp friends relentlessly, chasing them around and becoming a sort of camp paparazzi nuisance. As my good friend Rob Burke has often told me, “You and that camera were a pain in the ass.” As time passed photography became a more and more satisfying outlet to me and now is how I start and end my day, nothing makes me feel more gratified. Each picture is a source of amazement to me, a frozen slice of realty that no one knew would exist but now has great permanence and a very real potential to affect our lives. I’ve had an online presence for quite some time but turned to Etsy in April of this year as a means to distribute directly to collectors, specifically due to both Etsy and its participants genuine affection for the arts.

 in which celebrity's home would you like to see your photos hanging?

Jean Rollin or perhaps Paul Schrader, both have influenced my visual vocabulary immensely and are in my mind dreadfully underrecognized, however I’d settle for Leighton Meester.

what is the first thing you remember photographing?

My friends, especially at summer camp as I mentioned earlier. I very much saw those early polaroids as some sort of artifact that was more then just paper and gelatin; I still have them all to this day. I have one particular image that was one of my very first, an older friend completely decked out in mid-eighties thrash metal casual that is just timeless, I call the picture “Heavy Metal Time Machine”.

in what way has your location influenced your art?

I suppose I am most influenced by the people of wherever I may be more so than the actual landscape. My work everyday is really a love affair of sorts with my subjects, I will see someone on the street or at an event and just know that with their help I can make something amazing, show them a version of themselves they never imagined. In that way work from a specific period becomes almost a map of relationships more than an evolving style or general progression. When I meet someone I feel an overwhelming need to photograph, that is when I feel progress because I know what will come out will change the way everything I had photographed before it will be viewed.

what are your favorite bands/books/movies/tv shows?

Any books, movies, musical works, etc. from the following group of masterminds are very much worth your time and hard earned cash: Guido Crepax, Jean Rollin, Walerian Borowczyk, Walter Potter, Laura Gemser, Quentin Blake, Ralph Bakshi, J.G. Ballard, David Hamilton, Joel-Peter Witkin, Trevor Brown, Anne Sexton, Nicky Henson, Irina Ionesco, Tom of Finland, Romain Slocombe, Robin Hardy, The Flemion brothers, Hisayasu Sato, Alejandro Jodorowsky, Yousuf Karsh, Hans Bellmer, Rex Miller, Terry Richardson, W. Mark Snyder, Shostakovich, Aaron Funk, Jus Osborne, Kenneth Anger, John Keel, Steven J. Bernstein, Paul Schrader, John Bauer, Jenny Agutter, Max Pécas, Clovis Trouille, Otto Dix, Jose Larraz, Bill Henson

 what is your biggest pet peeve?

Talking in movies: I’ve been threatening to start carrying a video camera and a flood light and taping these jerk-offs when they strike and posting the videos on a new site called whatthehellswrongwithyou.com. At $9 a ticket I want a damn “cone of silence” is that too much to ask?

what is one particular craft/talent that you're not very good at but wish you were?

I would love to be able to make the clothes for my images by scratch, I currently have to buy the fabric and materials, sketch out the idea and hope that the person sewing it together can understand my terrible scribblings and notes without losing it and tossing a serger out the window.

 

what is your favorite item of your own creation?

“The Capture and Retention of St. Valentine” is a piece I never grow tired of, not a particularly difficult shot to arrange but the end result I find simply sublime. I look at it every day, the strange reality being that it has never been excessively popular with anyone else. I think there must just be something very personal of myself in there somewhere, something only I can feel the weight of.

what do you do when you're not taking photos?

I’m a film obsessive and have been from a very early age. Much of my photography takes influence from a myriad of films and film styles and I think that is a direct result of how important film has been in my life. I’ll consume practically any film you put in front of me with great vigor and enthusiasm, I find myself hypnotized by them. It’s truly been a lifelong love affair for me, a great film can elevate us to immeasurable heights of joy and awareness and I am constantly seeking that experience, I never grow tired of it.

what superpower would you most like to have?

I would want infinite and limitless charm, without a doubt. Wouldn’t it be amazing to walk in to any room and find a captive audience? It would be a passport to so many other things. “What’s that sir? You want a private audience with the pope? But of course, come right this way…” excellent… It would be like having a backstage pass to life.

do you have any success tips for new sellers on Etsy?

Patience, marketing and product rotation. I use Etsy as a means to distribute my work to a very arts oriented audience but it still takes time to reach your customers. Have a little patience and take every opportunity to let people know where to find you, that means keeping a blog and updating it with announcements of new items, placing Etsy mini-stores in other locations on the web and even making flyers and stickers to give to people in person. If they can’t find you they can’t shop with you. Lastly, update your products fairly often to keep your storefront fresh and to give your regular customers a reason to come back often.

I can only hope my interview and presentation does this man's expectations justice! An artist (and appreciator of the arts) through and through, be sure to check out his work. He also has a very sharp website, a Myspace & of course, a Facebook for your browsing and networking delight!

Happy Thanksgiving!

2008-11-27T11:55:00.002-05:00

Happy Thanksgiving to you all!

I thought I'd post one quick Thanksgiving-themed item to share with you. Pumpkin Pie Soap, from SistersSimpleSoap. Loaded with shea butter, olive oil & jojoba, I'm sure it feels as delicious as it smells! There is nothing more absolutely FALL to me than pumpkin pie. It is warm, spicy & comforting. Wonderful. I hope you all enjoy today, & this whole long weekend for that matter! The boyfriend & I are heading to his aunt's house to celebrate with his family, & then tomorrow I will spend the whole day with my mom & brother cooking up another Thanksgiving meal :) Be happy.

Crabs

2008-11-24T09:39:00.004-05:00

The Etsy item I'm currently lusting over: this Crabs print from feaverish. It is printed on 6"x6" photo paper with a small white border & costs only $12 & why have I not just snatched this up yet? There's little I love more than scouring the beach during the summer months looking for crabs. My boyfriend can attest to this. Many a time has he walked off ahead of me, thinking I was by his side, only to turn around & catch me with my shoes off, crouched down in between some barnacle-covered rocks trying to catch that tiny, elusive crab I THINK I saw scuttling underneath the water. Awesome. feaverish is probably one of like 12 dudes on Etsy & I commend him for that! Also for his amazing photos. I aspire to one day be able to capture the nostalgia in certain vignettes as well as he does. As if the photos are softer & more understated because they are, in fact, from long ago. The colors & vividness have far to travel.

the road you should have took

2008-11-24T09:30:00.003-05:00

One of the only winter-themed photos in my shop (though I plan to change that this winter), this is a shot of my Mother's road, right in the middle of last year's barrage of snow. Seriously, the snow would. not. stop. Waking up to snow is supposed to be EXCITING -- that means it can't be happening every other day! Although I can't see how snow CAN be exciting past senior year of highschool considering work is rarely ever cancelled from it & you still have to DRIVE in it. Snow is pretty much only exciting if I have the day off, preferably the boyfriend has the day off also, we have absolutely NO place to go & the heat is on. Mmmm :)

Traveller Band

2008-11-21T14:07:00.002-05:00

The Etsy item I'm currently lusting over: the Traveller band from lunaticart's shop. It's just perfect: simple & understated while still being classy. Clean & smooth while still being nicked & rugged. It looks like it's already lived several lives, despite having not been made yet. It is made out of 950 silver (more silver, less copper = more tarnish resistant) & it arrives packed in a gift box -- only $25. This might end up being the Christmas present I buy for ME.

interview with CaramelJubilee!

2008-11-09T13:22:00.004-05:00

this time, I got the pleasure of interviewing Rachelle of CaramelJubilee fame (previously of earcmra fame). while I've not yet had the privilege of tasting her BEAUTIFUL looking caramels, she's got tons of positive feedback to back up her goods (445 positives, to be exact). caramels COULD NOT be a more perfect Christmas gift. or Thanksgiving gift... or Veterans' Day... Yay-It's-Wednesday gift... really, I'd take them anytime. here goes ;)

how long have you been doing your craft, & how long have you had an Etsy shop?

I've been cooking since I was very very young, but have only recently started candy-making. I made caramel for the first time in the spring of 2008. After many experimental batches and recipes, I came across a combination that worked fabulously. I've had an Etsy shop since May 2008.

what is the first thing you remember creating?

The first food I remember making was Kraft Macaroni and Cheese when I was about four or five years old. I mis-read the instructions and added 3 cups of milk, instead of 1/3 cup. It was more like macaroni soup. Fortunately my culinary skills have improved greatly since then!

what is your favorite/least favorite thing involved in making caramels?

My favorite thing about making caramel is watching it while it cooks. That probably sounds odd, but it is true. Watching the color and texture change as it cooks is always fascinating.

My least favorite thing about caramel making is wrapping the caramels. It takes an extremely long time to wrap them all by hand, and I'm pretty sure I'll get some sort of repetitive stress injury as a result of the motion involved. I have permanent calluses on the sides of my index fingers from the wrapping.

what are your favorite bands/books/movies/tv shows?

My favorite singers currently are the following: Adele, Regina Spektor, Feist, M. Ward, and Badly-Drawn Boy.

My favorite books are "Merle's Door" by Ted Kerasote and "The Problem of Pain" by C.S. Lewis.

My favorite movie is Amelie.

My favorite TV shows are Pushing Daisies and The Office.

describe a typical day in your life!

5am: Wake up, check e-mail and respond to convos, shower, get ready for the day
6am: Finish up homework and leave for school
7am-3pm: Attend nursing school, take tests, do homework, etc.
3pm-6pm: Work as a nurse doing home hospice visits
6-10 pm: Cook caramels and prepare shipments
10pm-midnight: Do homework for school, go to bed

As you can probably tell, nursing school is the predominant factor in my life right now and occupies the majority of my time. I try to do caramel-making as much as I can on the weekends and focus on school during the week. I'll be graduating soon and I'll be so happy to have more time to focus on other areas of my life!

what is one particular craft/talent that you're not very good at but wish you were?

I wish I was a better pianist. I had 8 years of lessons when I was younger but didn't get to the level that I should have and am usually shy about playing in front of others. I wish that I was better at this and that I had been more devoted to my learning when I was able to take lessons.

what are your favorite websites?

Etsy is definitely #1, Gmail is #2 if that counts as a website because the majority of my life is recorded in some form through gmail, I recently found Design Sponge Online and it has quickly become a new favorite.

what is YOUR favorite caramel flavor?

This varies from week to week. Currently, it's definitely chocolate. A bite of chocolate and a bite of pomegranate at the same time is a lovely combo too.

what would people be surprised to learn about you?

I am really a very easy-going person with few strong preferences, but I absolutely hate it when my food touches each other on my plate. There are few things I despise more.

what are 3 of your favorite etsy shops?

twigs & honey
Jenn Ski Art
Roadside Projects

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I can't get over how cool it is to be reminded that Etsy sellers are REAL PEOPLE. I tend to get a little starstruck at times, especially if an Etsy seller has TONS of sales & is a bit famous in our own realm (hint-hint)... but what makes Etsy so unique & so awesome is that we can see these peoples' shops, we can ooh & ahh over their items, we can admire everything they do - & then we can SEND THEM A CONVO & if we're real lucky, they'll respond ;)

so thank you, Rachelle, for such a lovely interview! remember folks, the cut-off order date for Christmas delivery is December 10, so if you want to give someone you love some delicious pomegranate, chocolate, or (the ones I'm lusting after) PUMPKIN PIE caramels: do it in the next month! whee!

interview with tsurubride!

2008-11-07T08:37:00.002-05:00

interview number 2! bear with me, I am still new at this ;) this time I was absolutely DELIGHTED to interview the lovely tsurubride, from Columbus, Ohio, creator of some of the cutest freaking card holders & change purses I've ever seen. honestly... a whale is cute enough at full-size, but at CARD HOLDER SIZE? *hold me*
see what I mean!?!!? okay... here goes:

how long have you been doing your craft, & how long have you had an Etsy shop?

When I was 6 or 7 I started sewing really ugly clothes for my Barbie doll and then my mom taught me to sew with a machine. I went to school for fashion, and I work full time in the apparel industry, and since I was working with clothes every day, I got out of sewing for a while. But then, my step-daughter wanted me to make some clothes for her dolls, and that helped to reignite my interest in sewing. Since I still didn't want to play with grown-up clothes I ended up making some purses for myself, and then my friends wanted some, and I thought, hey maybe some other people might some of these as well!

I started my Etsy shop back in November 2007 selling jewelry. My mother-in-law makes bracelets and what not and introduced me to the crazy world of beading. I was making and posting stuff, but it was more a passing fancy. And then when more and more friends got me to make purses for them I realized that I could sell those in my Etsy shop instead and I've never looked back.

what celebrity would you like to carry around your items?

Zooey Deschanel for sure! Maybe Drew Barrymore, though I'd need to make a faux-leather version for her.

what is the first thing you remember creating?

When my mom first taught me to sew with a machine, we made a purple jumpsuit that had a frog print for the pockets and shoulder ties. My mom made sure to take her time with me, she didn't want to push me into it so much that I wouldn't like it. Unfortunately that meant that by the time I finished the jumpsuit I had outgrown it. I still continued to sew anyway, and I still own that jumpsuit!

where does your username come from?

TsuruBride comes from the Decemberist album "The Crane Wife" - Tsuru is Japanese for crane. My husband runs a blog and music forum called TsuruRadio, and when I started my shop I wanted to incorporate our relationship into the name. There's a link to the story of the crane wife on my blog.

what are your favorite bands/books/movies/tv shows?

Since my husband has a music blog he's constantly introducing me to new music. I love old r&b, soul classics though like Etta James, Billie Holiday and Otis Redding, and new music wise I love Feist and the Decemberists. I'll read anything I can my hands on, particularly Haruki Murakami. My favorite movies are classics from the golden age of Hollywood, with Marilyn Monroe, Audrey Hepburn and Cary Grant. Recently, I loved Ironman (I am obsessed with Robert Downey Jr!), and Burn Without Reading. We try not to watch too much TV, but we're addicted to Law & Order, The Daily Show and House.
what do you listen to while you craft, and/or what is the environment like that you work in (hectic with kids running around, peaceful studio, cramped apartment, etc)?

I like to put my iPod on shuffle while I work to get a decent mix of music. I'll also switch up a bunch of different albums, especially when my man is trying to get me to listen to some newer artists. Right now our house is a complete mess since I'm going to be a in craft show in a couple weeks and I'm trying to make a bunch of stock. Our second bedroom in our house is our TV watching/home office/studio space, where I do most of my sewing. I have a large foldable table, that's currently taking residence in our living room, for cutting stuff out, and a second sewing machine on our kitchen table.

what is your favorite item of your own creation?

I love my little card holders. I really got to play around with different animals, and since they're tiny they just have that "awwww" effect.

what success tips do you have for new Etsians?

Promote! Promote! Promote! I know everyone says that but it's really true. There are so many shops on Etsy, to make yourself stand out you need to advertise. When I started my shop with jewelry I didn't really promote it, and now that I've switches to purse I've made much more effort in getting my name out there. I'll always take one of my purses out with me (with lots of business cards), I started a blog to attract customers, I buy showcases, and my husband always pimps out my shop, both in person and on his blog.

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she was a delight & the story she refers to when asked about the origin of her username can be found in her Etsy profile - it is just beautiful. I always love when, in the process of getting to know an artist, you walk away with some new stories.

be sure to also check out her cute-as-a-button blog & swing by her husband's shop, where he sells some really great photography! if you're in the Columbus area November 15th & 16th, catch her LIVE & in the flesh at Tiny Canary Indie Design Market -- when oh when am I going to get my own private jet so I can attend all of these things???

thank you, tsurubride - I WILL BE BACK (channeling Ahnold) to your shop to buy some adorable tiny animals to hold my future business cards!

YES WE DID.

2008-11-05T12:03:00.002-05:00

I have never felt more hopeful.

OMG i'm it!

2008-11-03T11:01:00.002-05:00

I've been tagged by Linda B.

The rules of tagging!:

1. Link to tagger & display these rules on your blog (done).

2. Share 7 facts about yourself - some random, some weird (done, below).

3. Tag 7 people at the end of your post by including links to their blog (done, below).

4. Let them know they've been tagged by commenting on their blogs!

7 Random & Weird Facts About Justine:

1. I don't know how to swim.

2. I've had general panic/anxiety for about 6 years now.

3. I almost always remember my dreams (at least partially).

4. I am completely self-taught as a photographer.

5. I turned 21 in June & still have yet to visit a bar!

6. Despite living in Maine since I was 6, I tried shrimp for the first time 2 years ago, lobster 1 year ago & scallops a few months ago.

7. I've never met my real Dad.

YOU'RE IT!
YellowLux
The Sisters' Studio
Christina Perdue Photography
owlbot
Pickles on Pizza
The Epicene Dream
&
Life as a tea party

2008-11-03T09:15:00.004-05:00

oh yes, you are viewing this correctly... I am promoting my own shop ON my own blog! somewhere the very fabric of time & space is slowly ripping. but really, I've had no sales for a while now & c'mon, I have some awesome prints in my shop. my camera owns (Nikon D40X, highly recommended to those of you who can afford to spend more than $600 on a camera - luckily I got it when we HAD money because I couldn't afford it now!)... it practically does all the work for me.
my prints are all available in a wide range of sizes (really anywhere from 2.5"x3.5" all the way to 8x10 & larger... you can practically customize the size) - they're all priced at $10 or less (a steal, or so I'm told) - & they would make fantastic gifts!
if nothing else, take a look around... you might find something you like. :)

NataJane guest interview!

2008-11-02T14:10:00.007-05:00

hello all, this is my first of (hopefully) many guest interviews with Etsy users! honestly, I think Etsy is underrated at times, & not enough of the insanely talented artists get their time in the spotlight. on the other hand, some of them DO get their time, more than their share of time, but dammit they're so good they deserve some more. enjoy!

NataJane, the creator of all things soft & fluffy (she has some delightful scarves, hats, bags, wrist gloves, pockets, necklaces, & kids' item in her shop, including my favorite: super-size red scarf), has done me the honor of being my blog's very first GUEST INTERVIEW. & I could not have made a better choice. located in Colorado, she is an artist of many mediums, but her shop primarily shows her crocheting skills. very warm & cozy. now, on to the interview :)

how long have you been doing your craft & how long have you been on etsy?

My Oma taught me the basic crochet stitch when I was a kid, but I never made anything of it until about a year ago. My husband and I moved to Colorado and I figured I could make at least a couple hats and scarves to keep us warm through the winter. I heard of Etsy through a friend and started my own shop in September of '07.

what inspires you?

I can think of three ingredients that are guaranteed to provide inspiration. Listening to music with a warm coffee in my hand while rain falls outside my window. Works every time :)

what are your favorite bands/movies/tvshows/books?

Mmmm- this list could be so long... Bands- Sondre Lerche, Nora Jones, Michael Bublé, Ingrid Michaelson, Dido, Derek Webb, The Fray, Gotan Project, Jack Johnson, Sufjan Stevens, Keane, Nickleback- I love a bit of everthing. Movies- Amelie, The Lord of the Ring series, Hancock, Pride and Prejudice, Mr. and Mrs. Smith, Elizabethtown to name a tiny few. Tv- House, Smallville the Office, Grey's Anatomy, and the Fringe are probably on the top of my list right now. I haven't read a lot of books lately, but the Harry Potter series is really great, White Oleander, anything by Roald Dahl, and Created to be His Help Meet by Debi Pearl is an amazing, straight-shooting book about marriage.

describe a typical day in your life!

I never have two days exactly the same, but here is a fairly average schedule: I wake up anywhere between 8 and 10 (yes, I value my morning sleep-in time :) make breakfast for hubby then go for a run with a friend of mine. Back in time to do some laundry or cleaning then lunch and my afternoon is waiting for me to fill it full of projects. I spend my afternoon crocheting, sewing, painting or teaching a private art class. When my husband gets done work between 5 and 7 we usually hit the gym for about an hour then back home for dinner. We stay up pretty late most evenings so I spend that time finishing projects, getting together with friends or just chillin' with my man. We both work from home, so it is a blessing to be able to spend the majority of our time together. We're pretty tight :)

what is one particular craft/talent that you're not very good at but wish you were?

I dabble in a lot of different things, but I don't feel like I have mastered any of them. I have a beautiful serger sewing machine and wish I had more patience with it. I'm trying to teach myself to sew, but it has been a long, uphill climb. I have a very specific style of clothing that I love to wear, I just wish I could make them a bit more easily to me.

Also- procrastination. I wish I had some secret talent that would enable me to banish every form of procrastination that does not cease to attack me each and every day.

what are your favorite websites to visit?

I am a blogger, so I always love to check out others' blogs, but here are a few other sites that are very special to me because I personally know the creative minds behind them: http://www.roundhouseartgallery.com/, http://www.josefcordova.com/index.asp, http://www.rebeccafinch.blogspot.com/ and the site that is my husband and a friend's personal design site: http://sqwhr.com/

Here are a couple other favorite sites: http://www.tastespotting.com/, http://www.contemporist.com/, and I can't forget this last one which is the site my husband designed for our brand new church- http://castleviewbaptist.com/.

what is your favorite item of your own creation?

I would have to say that I felt extremely bittersweet when I sold my zebra twist scarf. It was made of about a pound of handspun yarn from a fabulous seller, Simplytwisted and it was beautiful. The yarn had so much personality that it made the scarf a stunning piece. I was nervous to work with it because I thought I wouldn't do it justice, but it did sell and I was sad to see it go!

what success tips do you have for new etsians?

Let your voice be heard! It pays to spend some quality time the forums to get familiar with fellow etsians so that they will become familiar with you. Browse often so that you can keep up with what is new and find your favorite shops (and then heart them!) Keep your pieces fresh and ALWAYS look at your shop/photos/products with a critical eye. Ask yourself, "would I buy from my shop?" because that is what everyone else is going to be thinking when they come across your page.

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I was thrilled to be able to interview this lovely lady, & I encourage you all (yes, all 12 of you) to go & browse her shop. if nothing else, skip around her gorgeous website - you can click on the picture of your choice to head to either her blog or her shop, both marvelous. instantly added to my favorites :)

thank you, NataJane, for providing me with such a wonderful first interview & for being such an inspiration!

theme: GRAFFITI

2008-08-30T09:03:00.007-04:00

GRAFFITI - probably one of my favorite forms of art. it is the most common form of vandalism - in 2003, the city of Los Angeles spent over $55 million on graffiti removal. often, I think graffiti can be ugly - names scrawled across buildings, illegible words & phrases - but there is alot of beautiful graffiti art out there. I personally would rather see a massive side of a brick building covered in colors than just plain old brick. it would liven up alot of cities.

#1: Book Bound from danielbombardier ($750). this painting measures 3feet wide by 5feet high & while WOW I could never, ever, ever afford this maybe some of you could! it is freaking awesome & HUGE, not to mention gritty & sexy. the artist is Daniel Joseph Bombardier, a graphic designer & professional painter. his shop is still fairly new & has alot of great work in it, so go look around!
#2: Splatter Paint Button from BarrelOfMonkeys ($1). not technically GRAFFITI persay but PAINT SPLATTERS which are still awesome & fit into the theme enough for me! it is my damn blog after all. anyways! the artist is Jill N. Hamilton-Krawczyk, creator of buttons, photography, art dolls, quilts, jewelry, artist trading cards... she is a veritable jack of all trades! she's got almost 200 items for sale & an impressive history of over 2,400 sales thus far! she's got an insane amount of buttons to choose from, including the option to customize your own! she also has pocket mirrors, pendants, earrings, photography & books for sale! go check her out now while she's having a BIG SALE on buttons AND pocket mirrors!
#3: Floral Graffiti Clutch from alisaburke ($45). this clutch is made from a canvas painting & sewn into a simple clutch. very much graffiti inspired, it is very unique! the artist, Alisa Burke, is a painter & mixed media artist. she also teaches a number of workshops around the San Diego area & has shown her work in a variety of galleries & shops. her shop not only has bags & clutches, but jewelry as well - primarily bangles & cuffs!
#4: PURPLE MONSTER stencil graffiti tshirt from sheshodesigns ($22). I want this shirt BAD. this is such an awesome photo (taken by the artist in Buenos Aires), REALLY great graffiti & I love all of the wild colors. this chick is amazing, running this shop single-handedly while still managing to pump out unique vintage-, thrift- & 80's-inspired goodies. she's a busy lady but her work doesn't suffer - check out her shop!
#5: Fix print from davepalumbo ($12!). measuring 8.5"x11", this print has so much detail & intricacy that I can't even keep up. the artist is Dave Palumbo (the body builder?) from Philadelphia, a freelance illustrator. his shop is still quite new, but check back often - his work is stunning & SO REAL looking.

theme: LOBSTERS!

2008-08-29T09:37:00.007-04:00

so did you know that while today lobster is considered a delicacy, in Colonial times they considered it "poor man's food" ? and that their average lifespan in the wild is 50 years? they also, when eaten, have less calories, cholesterol & saturated fats than chicken or turkey. yum!

#1: See Food Fill In Invitation from tuccipaperco ($14 for 8). these are so damn cute! a little lobster & crab at the top, "see food" party *chucklechucklechuckle*, THE perfect font - beautiful! they measure 4.25"x5.5" & come with envelopes with matching lobsters on the flaps. they are also printed on luxurious imported Italian pearlescent paper! the artist is Wenda, a lover of paper, music & babies (and baby dogs!). her shop is fabulous & has quickly become one of my favorites. it is filled with all kinds of paper goods: mini notes, some very classy wedding invitations, fill in invitations, thank you cards, reception placecards, bookplates, blank notes, & gift tags!
#2: French Pet Lobster Shirt from Xenotees ($20). your basic cream colored tee with a wonderful little lobster at the bottom & in French: "J'ai le gout des homards, qui sont tranquilles, serieux, savant les secrets de la mer, n'aboient pas..." meaning "I have a liking for lobsters. They are peaceful, serious creatures. They know the secrets of the sea, they don't bark..." hehe! Xenotees is based out of Philadelphia & $2 of every order is donated to Flat Iron Wildcats, helping the stray cat population! if you need a reason besides that to check out her shop, she also has a bunch of awesome shirts, including kids' shirts & mens' shirts!
#3: Lobster from kochansky ($150). this little guy measures 2.5" long & even comes with his own dish of butter (how selfless!). he can also be made into a wall box/diorama upon request! this shop is the artist's, Justina Kochansky's, sister site to her web serial Articulate Matter, which I encourage you to check out. she is a sculptor & sometimes puppeteer & her creations are fantastic - dark, creepy & vaguely disturbing, yet at such a small scale you can't help but find them to be precious.
#4: arabic onesie from mothdesigns ($11!). so fantastic - a onesie printed with a bright red lobster & a caption in Arabic - in Portland, Maine (my hometown!) there is the largest community of Sudanese refuegees in the country, many of whom speak Arabic, so this is an excellent way to support & learn about them. it comes with a small card printed with a transliteration of how to say 'lobster' in Arabic. the artist is Mary E. Robbins, & she has one of the most unique & meaningful stores (& stories) I've found thus far -- you really need to visit her profile & read for yourself. she has great clothing choices already designed & welcomes custom orders so go check it out!
#5: lobster bowl 2 from janiceholt ($50). perfect for boiled lobster with butter! it measures 8-1/2" wide by 4" tall & has a hand-painted lobster on the inside & a series of dots around the outside rim. the artist is, as you may have guessed, Janice Holt & all of her pieces are hand-thrown on the wheel, designed, painted & glazed by her. her shop is still quite new, with just a few delightful, whimsical bowls so far, so stick around for a while :)

theme: LOBSTERS!

2008-08-28T11:37:00.008-04:00

LOBSTERS! being from Maine, how could I not have a theme for lobsters? & this was a tough one - you don't even want to know how many pages of results I had to wade through because inevitably, searching for "lobster" WILL bring you about a million results for LOBSTER CLASP. I'm sure there's a way to search for lobster & somehow exclude the results including the word CLASP but I'm nothing if not computer illiterate. even if I weren't from Maine, lobsters are still cool. did you know that lobster blood is clear? when the lobster is boiled, the blood turns to an opaque, whitish gel with no discernible scent or flavor (and is totally safe to eat!). they can regenerate their legs, claws & antennae, & occasionally even amputate their own claws & legs to escape danger. they come in a variety of colors besides the usual blue-green including yellow, blue, red, & white. some even have half their shell one color & the other half a different color. YESSSS.

#1: Lobster Mummy print from joehavasy ($13!). so goofy & fun, I could see this in a kid's bedroom & also in MY bedroom. the print measures 8"x10" & was supposedly drawn from life ;) the artist is Joe Havasy from Athens, Georgia! he's a super-talented dude & seems to be awesomely dorky as well. he is a painter & cartoonist who lives in a tiny one-bedroom apartment with his chihuahua Marv. he also likes carrots & transformers (who doesn't?) ! I sort of want to buy out his entire store so go look before I do!
#2: lobster block print towel from artgoodies ($15). admittedly kitschy (by the artist as well) but still awesome - lobsters can't NOT be awesome. 100% cotton measuring 20"x28". the artist is Lisa Price from Grand Rapids, Michigan - a nature-lover & vintage goody finder! she has everything from block print towels, aprons, stuffies (adorable), framed prints, paper prints, & totes! her profile is chock full of press events - she's a popular lady!
#3: E. L. Blaine the Third from sojournquilts ($40). such a classy politician. not your average lobster! designed, cut, pieced, appliqued & sewn by the artist herself, Janyce from BANGOR, MAINE. she is very much inspired by Maine landscape & loves to design new lobsters - she has over 60 to choose from in her shop! in addition to them, she also has wall hangings, ACEOs, ornaments, kid-friendly lobsters, holiday stockings, buttons & wallets!
#4: Lobsterclaw Tee from ortegacy ($15). badass! hand silkscreened on an American Apparel unisex ringer tee. ORTEGACY is Dave Ortega, an illustrator & artist from Boston, Mass. he brings tees from the future back to us! & they are awesome so go look around.
#5: MAINE LOBSTER vintage postcard from the 1960s from ambercolumbia ($2.50). perfect! vintage-y lobster, lobster traps & buoys! what more could you want? the back even says "The Lobster is King... or as we say it in coastal northern New England LOBSTAH, ayah, is king!". the shop owner is Adrienne Kernan La Vallee, an artist & college professor from New England. she has almost 100 items for sale, including vintage items, ACEOs, prints, mixed mediums, banners/avatars, charms, bags, jewelry, & supplies!

theme: POPPIES!

2008-08-21T09:21:00.006-04:00

this will be my last post for this theme :( I haven't decided what I'll do yet next... could be graffiti... could be sharks!... could be music... I guess you'll just have to stick around to see!

#1: Like a poppy necklace from byMarianneS ($34). a gorgeous red crocheted poppy hanging from a black chain with various Czech glass beads dangling from the bottom - simple & classy! the artist is Marianne Seiman, a self-taught designer & mother of three from Estonia. her shop is very understated & almost antique-looking, with lots of lace & pastels. she has an array of things to look at, from bracelets to intricate brooches to very elegant neckwarmers & necklaces - go look around!
#2: Letterpress Printed Poppy Flat Notecards from greenirispress ($12 for 6!). these cards were printed on a Vandercook printing press by hand & the poppy pattern was designed by the artist herself. she is a recent college graduate who spent most of her classes learning about bookbinding, letterpress & sewing (awesome!). her store is quite new & very small, but she has a gorgeous Italian longstitch handbound leather journal so GO SNATCH THAT UP!
#3: Poppy, 5x5 print from esoule ($15). this is by far one of my favorite shops on Etsy, so get used to the name because you will be seeing it alot! I love this photo because of how rich and saturated the colors are, yet the slight blurriness & softness makes you feel like you're waking up from a wonderful dream. probably partially due to the fact that the photo was originally taken with a Polaroid SX-70, known for its soft focus quality & strange colors. this shop overall is amazing - especially her Little Zoo prints. the artist, Elizabeth Soule, is truly awesome - come back & thank me later for introducing you to this shop ;)
#4: Felted Green Bag With Red Poppies from larsandaddie ($80). such a perfect, soft bag for just about anything - I can see myself carrying home produce & other fragile groceries in it! The bag comes unlined but for an extra $20 you can have it lined with the fabric of your choice! the artist is a lovely lady named Rhena Tantisunthorn Refsland - the shop is named for her grandmother, Adelaide, and her brother, Lars - vivid characters from her early childhood (I love this). her shop has more adorable bags, hipster pouches, napkins & fabric coasters!
#5: Amber Poppies earrings from LunasaDesigns ($40). I love how light & fresh these are - the amber color is a nice take on poppies, taking them away from the traditional red. plus these look like they probably move nicely as you move - very swingy & flirty! these are sterling silver, hand formed, soldered & hammered by the artist, Rebekah Timlin Meddles. she is a work-at-home-mom from the "backwoods" of Michigan. she has been inspired greatly by her parents & other artists & her shop is a good variety of art-deco inspired pieces mingling with very earthy, organic items. you can see how much work and concentration went into each piece, and the uniqueness is refreshing!
#6: sous la pluie print from labokoff ($25). measuring 8.5"x8.5", this is an original photograph digitally mixed with painting. & it is GORGEOUS. I love the delicate framing of the grass, the dusty blue sky & the fact that despite the poppy being weighed down by plump droplets of rain, it still manages to be the most radiant thing in the photo. unfortunately I do not know this lady's name, but her photos are enchanting little slices of Paris, France -- go drool over them like I did! (and do!)
#7: Poppy sterling silver pendant from AnabellaDesigns ($35). a cute little rectangular pendant with carved poppy silhouettes! each pendant is pierced, cut, filed & finished by hand by the artist, Amalia, from Vancouver. she fell in love with jewelry making after studying Fine Arts at university & has been hooked ever since. she is happily pursuing her (and my!) long-term goal of being self-employed while doing something that she loves. her shop has more WONDERFUL sterling silver pendants as well as enamel pendants & earrings!
#8: Red Poppy Blank Notecards from JustAnotherDay ($10 for 6). beautiful - I love the pairing of the orangey-red with light blue. the artist is an art director by day & a creator of all kinds of things by night! her shop has an excellent array of very modern notecards, flatcards, sketchbooks, prints, tags & even a wedding collection!
#9: Poppy bowl from PrinceDesignUK ($22!). a delightful little clay poppy bowl measuring 4"x4"x2". formed by hand by the artist, Elizabeth Prince, with a single piece of clay, without the use of a mold or a potter's wheel. she has been making art starting from a very young age & spent years as an interior designer at some of Manchester, England's, most prestigious addresses. she now makes handmade, unique items for people like herself who are sick of machine-made, clone-like gifts, decorations & wearables. her store is truly one-of-a-kind, featuring bowls, brooches, buttons, hooks, necklaces, & candle holders!

#10: Fields of Poppies on Black Canvas bag from RebeccaWeis ($45). I just love the tiny, delicate stems on these & the way the heads of the poppies POP right off the bag! the artist is Rebecca Weis, who lovingly handmakes boutique style handbags & accessories. she has other very professional yet fun bags, along with almost 100 pieces of handmade jewelry! go look around!
#11: Poppies (edition one) print from yumiyumi ($20). Giclee print of an original illustration that was later digitally tweaked. I love the variations of the different reds, pinks & purples in this, as well as how dreamy & surreal the watercolor makes it appear. the artist is Aline Yamada, a fine artist & illustrator originally from Brazil. she currently lives in Columbus, Ohio, with her husband & toddler son! she has over 150 items in her shop to choose from, in so many different colors it will make your head spin! her items seem to be mostly inspired by nature & are all quite beautiful & whimsical!

theme: back to POPPIES!

2008-08-18T08:41:00.003-04:00

alright, back to the original theme: POPPIES! we took a much-needed Radiohead break, but now we're back to business! (although I think Kid A might be permanently fused inside my car's CD player)

#1: Monrovia - Original Map Painting from rachelaustin ($160). this is a mixed media painting named for one of the locations on the map underneath! it measures 12"x12" & is mounted on a boxy, handmade wood frame, ready to hang! the artist, as you may have guessed, is Rachel Austin from Portland, Oregon. she has been painting for the past 3 years & frequently creates pieces of work centered around flight, travel & CIRCLES (her favorite). she has over 100 items for sale in her shop, primarily paintings with some pendants, cards, mirrors & magnets thrown in for good measure!
#2: Dusty Aqua Cloth Napkins with Screen-printed Red Poppies from MichelleBrusegaard ($25 for 4). such a perfect aqua color with those adorable tiny poppies! I have this dream that one day my kitchen will be filled with absolutely adorable (though not necessarily matching) things - napkins, tea cozies, measuring spoons, tiny bowls, fridge magnets - & this set fits right into my fantasy. the artist, Michelle Brusegaard from Minneapolis, has "art and craft ADD" & bounces around between painting, photography, screen-printing, batik & some mixed media. she is lucky enough to work at a paper store part-time & work on her shop the rest! she has tons of amazing stuff: paintings, scarves, prints, photos, napkins, beautiful cards, invites, personalized stationery AND she welcomes custom wedding invitations! omgz.
#3: Poppy Pillow from OrangeWillow ($15). cute little pillow measuring 9.5"x8", with some gorgeous red poppies that look like they're floating away with the breeze. this lady, Wendy Allegree, is from Cincinnati (my hometown!) & is inspired mostly by her 3-year-old daughter, Zoe. she is in the process of opening up a gallery with her sister in Covington, Kentucky, & is currently having a sale with all the proceeds going towards that! buy 2 prints at regular price ($15) & get the third for free! get some awesome prints & support the arts SIMULTANEOUSLY!

#4: poppies photograph from everythingok ($15). awesome (half)double-exposed antique-looking 5"x5" photo, shot with the artist's Diana. (I am jealous) I totally don't know this artist's name but she is obsessed with VAMPIRES (yes!) & is a library lady. we would probably get along. she has tons of stuff for sale & just about the cutest advertising photos ever! aaaah go look!
#5: Poppy Flower Garland from Middleburg ($32). hand-dyed, hand-painted garlands, approx. 6' long with 6-8 flowers on each. she suggests looping one through a chandelier which just made me so sad that I live in a tiny apartment with no chandaliers in sight :( she also has a rose garland & a dogwood garland if you're not a poppy fan but REALLY, WHO ISN'T? the artist is Susan Havens-Morris from St. Charles. her favorite medium is papier mache done with paper pulp, using a very earth-friendly pulp coming from 100% recycled paper! her store is one of the most unique I've seen, with everything from flying pigs to polka dot hens to human figures to fruits to carrot garlands to pin cushions!

theme: RADIOHEAD!

2008-08-15T15:33:00.002-04:00

one time theme to honor my absolute insanity over this band... & to celebrate the fact that I finally saw them live on wednesday. GUH. best night of my life. they were amazing & that's coming from a person who was about as far away as you could be while still being inside the venue... I could pretty much only see thom yorke on the big screens but GOD DAMN. wow.

#1: Radiohead print from ShawnaAAAphotos ($50). see THIS is why I would've died (or killed) to be in the front row -- to see THIS FACE! passion can only be conveyed so well from about a million miles away. this print is 12" x 8" & is a limited edition of 50! the artists are the husband & wife team of James Goulden & Shawna Scott, Dublin-based music photographers (lucky bastards). visit their shop for this amazing print, or a few others, including SNOOP DOGG!
#2: THOM YORKE.. RADIOHEAD.. FITTER HAPPIER print from MATTY8080 ($16). one of the most popular people I feature on here, MATT CIPOV is awesome. he is a self-proclaimed "tremendous Radiohead fan" & created this ridiculous print of the one, the only, Thom Yorke. it measures 7.6" x 10" & is the most splendid shade of blue. Thom's face in this in incomparable & I WILL have this print hanging in my apartment before the month is out.
#3: RADIOHEAD themed Converse All-Stars from aetherized ($100). pretty damn awesome. chucks are my shoe of choice as it is, & Radiohead is my band of choice, so where exactly could I go wrong with this? they come in women's size 8 or men's size 6. the artist is Tita from California & her shop is all shoes at the moment, including My Chemical Romance, Harajuku Lovers, Greenday, "brown, blue & birds", "ode to the letter E", & a pair of totally custom shoes, up to you to decide!
#4: Radiohead print from LeesaLeva ($35). this is so, so, so, so, so great. the detail is insane. this is a portrait that the artist, Leesa Leva, did for the Jan-Feb 2008 issue of American Songwriter Magazine (!). crazy. it measures 10" x 10" & is absolutely beautiful -- this is another piece of work that I MUST own. she has other beautiful prints in her shop, all limited editions of 50, so go look around!
#5: RADIOHEAD DRAWING print from MATTY8080 ($16). did I mention that MATT CIPOV is pretty much the coolest guy alive? where else could I find not one but TWO pieces of Radiohead artwork? please, if not for my sake, FOR YOUR SAKE, go check out his store. this print not only has some great representations of classic Radiohead artwork, but it has Radiohead lyrics strewn in there, too -- which just might be one of the best parts of this band. have you LISTENED to their lyrics? hell, after you go check out Matt's store, go download some Radiohead... & then come thank me.

theme: POPPIES!

2008-08-12T10:49:00.004-04:00

oh yes. more poppies. I wish this theme would never end. alright, so poppies are kind of odd. they commonly symbolize death & sleep, due to the opium extracted from them & because of their (commonly) blood-red color. they're used as emblems on tombstones to symbolize eternal sleep. they were even in the Wizard of Oz, the magical poppy fields that caused whoever passed through to sleep forever. it also became a symbol for the dead World War I soldiers due to it being a common weed in Europe & being one of the only plants that grew on the battlefield, despite the frequently disturbed & blook-soaked soil. I think poppies being a little creepy, a little nostalgic, a little dark, just makes me like them more.

#1: Ladybug and Poppies gift tags from HidenSeek ($7 for 6). the artist is Hidden Eloise & she is so totally a kid at heart! her shop shows it -- it is so full of color & whimsy. little girls becoming friends with giant bears, feeding fawns, sleeping with wolves. she has a wide range of prints in different sizes, adorable gift tags with scalloped edges, cards, stationery, buttons, magnets, mirrors & stickers. it all makes me want to be a kid again.
#2: Red Poppy tiny picture from Boxoftrix ($16). a tiny little framed hand-embroidered silk poppy (wow, too many adjectives). this measures only 33mm x 24mm & would be perfect for a dollhouse! this lady is from Fife, Scotland, & dabbles in all kinds of artistic mediums. her shop is varied & I love the miniatures!! definitely worth checking out.
#3: California Poppy Plate from firecat ($44). a 10" square stoneware plate with an impression of a California poppy! I love the soft, muted colors of the imprint & the slightly rounded corners of the plate itself. the artist is Jeannette L. Jennings from Santa Cruz, California, & she specializes in cat-themed pottery (!) as well as plates, clocks, tile, & sculpture. her store also contains wall planters, beads, vases, business card holders & ornaments!
#4: Poppy Magnets from tannerglass ($10 for 2). two handmade glass cabochons measuring 1" round with a sweet, pale blue background & two California poppy silhouettes. the artist, Suzanne, is currently settled in Providence, Rhode Island, but has called Connecticut, Colorado & Maine (!!) home. All of her glass items are hand-blown herself... she has been glass-blowing for over 10 years & has been running tannerglass for over 6 & still loves the exhileration & challenge that comes with glass-making. her shop has everything from vases to bottlestoppers to decorated leash hooks - check it out :)
#5: hey. thanks. notecards from OldMoney ($5.50 for 4). a set of 4 notecards with envelopes, with a casual poppy pattern designed by the artist. she is Nadine Hernandez & she hand-makes & assembles all of her unique, heartfelt items herself. she has some wonderful cards, as well as earrings, rings, necklaces, bracelets, brooches, & scented sachets!
#6: Narrow black poppy pattern screenprinted ties from toybreaker ($30 for 1). 3" wide at its widest point and 58" long, not too wide and not too narrow! this AMAZING shop, chock full with over 100 ties, scarves & ascots available, is run by just ONE woman: Bethany Shorb. the shop boasts over 2,000 sales & her ties have been noticed by Martha Stewart, indiefixx, The New York Times & Bust, to name a few. "the TieLab was started in 2006 after noticing a void in creative yet sophisticated neckwear." her ties are absolutely gorgeous: florals, squids, skull & crossbones, gas masks, intricate designs, oak trees, ravens... everything under the sun, & in every color imaginable. go now!!!
#7: Poppy Bracelet from tmStudioDesigns ($20). so gorgeous... made from scraps of fine Italian leather, what could be better than that? such a delicious shade of deep, blood red & tied to an adjustable black leather cord. simple & classy yet dark & brooding. the lady who runs this shop is on a mini-break right now until the end of August, but check out her shop in the meantime to find some excellent wristlets, zipper pouches, handbags, & accessories - including more poppy items like this one!
#8: Poppies in a field of Celery bowl from GretchensCreations ($35). this is so interesting - a bowl that has been hand-knit out of celery green 100% Icelandic wool with poppies needle-felted on the bottom. it measures 8" wide by 3" deep & can even be folded up to take with you wherever you go. the artist, Gretchen, is a Colorado native & part-time stay-at-home-mom of a 3-year old :) she has a bunch more hand-knit bowls, drink cozies, plushies, purses/bags/totes, trivets & bracelets - very unique!
#9: Poppies print from jellybeans ($15). this is a print of an original watercolor painting on cardstock -- this particular one measuring 8.5" x 11" but there is another listing for a 10" x 15" for $25. I just love the literal rainbow of colors in this - how the poppies seem to be dancing together, their heads just a little too big for their tiny threadlike bodies. the artist, Angie, is a sweetheart whom I have had the pleasure of chatting with in Etsy chatrooms! check out her shop for more unique watercolors & prints, mostly tree-centric (love trees).
#10: Vintage Poppy Flower and Champagne earrings from ShySiren ($28). so feminine, so glamorous, so classic -- the perfect little poppy antiqued brass bead caps atop faceted glass beads. the shop also contains a matching necklace for these earrings, equally beautiful! the artist is Sara K. Schwittek & she has been selling jewelry since 2003. she designs & hand-crafts each piece, most of which are one-of-a-kind. there is obviously lots of love & time put into each piece of jewelry, from pink flower blossom earrings to antique copper and champagne glass flower necklaces. her item titles read like decadent gourmet dinner descriptons - go read for yourself!

theme: POPPIES!

2008-08-10T10:16:00.008-04:00

this was, by far, the best theme I have done so far. it was such a delight looking through all these shops & picking out the most beautiful of items! there were such varied items to browse - poppies can be put onto ANYTHING. there were so many different colors & styles that it was difficult but so much fun.

#1: poppy locket from maneki ($42). a vintage locket with a glass red poppy accent. this could not be more beautiful! the colors are so excellent & this necklace could be worn anywhere, anytime. I could see myself wearing it with a simple black dress or with a v-neck shirt & jeans. this artist is a jewelry designer in austin, texas. her Etsy shop features one-of-a-kinds & smaller runs, but her current collection can be found at maneki collection ! her style is very vintage-inspired, so go browse around!
#2: we follow the sun print from seasprayblue ($17). this is such a perfect & simple 8x10 print. the colors are very muted, yet the touch of red at the top of the poppies is just enough vibrance. you can almost see them swaying in the breeze. this shop is run by Katrin Schwulst in Dresden, Germany, and it is FANTASTIC. instantly one of my favorite shops. she has had her work featured in some great blogs & I am not the least bit surprised. her work is very simple yet intricate... very unique yet relatable... very romantic, AND she even has a print inspired by TWIN PEAKS. I think I'm in love.
#3: Midnight Poppies Pendant from TheIntuitiveGarden ($14). this is an original illustration printed on white plastic, then protected with glossy resin. adorable! & I love that the poppies are black on blue rather than the typical red! this lady was born & raised in Missouri but currently lives north of Boston with her husband & two kitties :) all the items in her shop feature original illustrations done by herself! she's got some really beautiful stuff with a wide range of sizes, shapes & styles!
#4: Poppy Fields round pendant from CopperFrogStudio ($34.50). this item is ON SALE right now! originally $46 it is now 25% off!! get it while it's hot!! whee. anyways! this pendant was hand-made by the artist & can also be done with a shiny finish if you prefer. the lady is Lori Owens, a passionate jewelry artist. she welcomes custom orders & is currently having a POPPY SALE (how perfect!) -- all poppy items in her shop are 25% off through the end of August!
#5: poppy flare 8x10 photograph from SunkissedPhotography ($15). beautiful. I love sun flares & love photographing flowers... the more colorful, the better. this photo is just perfect! the lady behind the camera is Kristin Zecchinelli, a mother of 3 living on the coast of Maine!!! (I happen to live in Scarborough) she is a self-proclaimed lover of natural light, flares & sunbursts... we would get along just fine :) go check out her store for more nature-inspired photos, bursting with color.
#6: The Tale of Poppy bag from TamamiKoBag ($56). SO beautiful. the color of that poppy is absolutely perfect. I would feel so elegant carrying this bag around! the artist, Tamami Ko, is inspired by vintage & secondhand clothing. originally from Japan but now living in Ontario, Canada, she is fulfilled "creating items that combine elements of beauty, style and fashion". she has many beautiful bags, clutches & wallets & offers FREE SHIPPING!
#7: Poppy Mini Notebook in brown from jengsshop ($7). measuring approx. 4.25" by 5" with 30 pages of white 100% recycled paper, this notebook is adorable. perfect for keeping in your purse for last-minute to-do lists, ideas, inspirations, etc. for me, I'd need about 5 of these to keep in every corner of my home/car/purse. the artist is Jennifer Eng, who hand-illustrates all the items found in her shop. she brings her camera with her wherever she goes & some of her drawings end up inspired by the photos she takes. her items are all very simple yet beautifully colorful & most of which inspired by some facet of nature. it's a shop I often browse & you should, too!
#8: recycled poppy corsage in midnight blue from foundling ($15). I know, I know, foundling has been featured here before, but how could I pull off a poppy theme without an item of hers? as far as Etsy goes, she DEFINES poppy! in case you forgot, or you're new here, SHE is Betsy. she is "inspired by old and forgotten things; anything that has faded or tarnished; things that smell faintly of mildew and dust." everything in her shop incorporates vintage, found, recycled or repurposed materials and are all fantastic. go there to check out her array of poppy items & then get lost in her other fabulous jewelry.
#9: Poppy Bookmark from majito ($11). this bookmark is made from natural linen, with antique lace edging at the top and has been sewn by hand. the artist is Maria Jose - a 6th year teacher in Argentina & a recent mother! her store has some wonderful notepads, matchbooks, bookmarks, patches, ACEOs, brooches & pins. she is currently having a raffle for one of her notebooks - the winner is being drawn August 24th - so send her a convo to be considered!
#10: Resolute print from thebunnycage ($18). this is a print of an original watercolor & ink piece, inspired by the one-year-annivesary of the artist's family's move from California to Wyoming. she is Sara LeeAnn and just perusing her profile makes me love her! her writing, though casual and informative, is like poetry. she dabbles in abstract botanicals, upcycled mixed media pieces & fine art photography & you'll find a little of each in her shop.

theme: BIRDS!

2008-08-08T07:08:00.004-04:00

now I almost can't wait for the next theme, because it is POPPIES & I found so many delightful items. way more than I expected. but for now it is BIRDS! geese, canaries, robins, swallows... TONS of bird-themed items on Etsy :)

#1: Double Goose from symarian ($55). I've had my eye on this one for a while. there are two sides to this decor piece... the side you see is the male, & the opposite side is the female! "like two lovers that never meet"... it's all very romantic & tragic. symarian (for lack of her real name) made this double-goose when her uncle made nativity scene figures out of plywood & gave her the scraps -- this one was undoubtedly goose-shaped! she has a few other handcrafted wooden items in her shop, so go be her first sale!
#2: Miss Adorable print from amberalexander ($17). another beautiful watercolor print from this shop! she has been featured on here before but I couldn't resist this one! I just love this little bird's face... it is almost sad, yet so trusting. she truly has talent & my persistence should convince you!
#3: Our home brooch from yaelfran ($20). another repeat offender! I featured this lovely lady once before but this brooch has been an object of my affection & I couldn't help adding it in with this theme. she has recently added some new items, including a freaking adorable magnet set for the fridge, so go look!
#4: Bird Themed Magnets from starryeyedstudios ($9.95). the artist is Alesha Fowlie, an art school graduate who has made it her goal to live off of her art! she's got a pretty full shop, complete with tins, glass/clay pendants (ON SALE!), loose magnets, tile pendants, & animal-themed magnets. go check out her store quick because she is no longer making the glass/clay pendants & they are going fast!
#5: Bird Swing earrings from Joannarutter ($55). hand fabricated sterling silver earrings, made to order! the artist, Joanna Rutter, describes her creations as such: "My pieces begin life as sketches and are then rendered into metal by hand." her shop is ADORABLE & filled with animal- & bird-themed jewelry pieces, as well as some nature-themed ones.

theme: BIRDS!

2008-08-06T07:40:00.002-04:00

so birds is the current theme. I'm trying to stay away from anything like owls & ducks because I plan to do those in their own theme later on... so right now it's every other kind of bird. songbirds & sparrows & canaries... they're all fair game!

#1: Little Sparrows (rainbow edition) print from yumiyumi ($20). I've been a fan of this print since I first came to Etsy. it is a Giclee print of an original illustration using pen & ink, some watercolor & some digital tweaking & measures 8.5"x11". the artist is Aline "Yumi" Yamada, a fine artist & illustrator originally from Brazil & now residing in the midwest. she has tons of really beautiful prints in her shop: a wide selection of bird prints, owl prints, tiny animals, (cute) monster prints, girl prints & floral prints. there is so much color in her shop it is almost overwhelming! & that is a good thing.
#2: THE MAGPIE print from lizacorbett ($40). I am so in love with this print there are really no words for it. it is an archival giclee print of an original drawing by the artist, Liza Corbett. to me, it is very creepy & elegant at the same time. disturbing and yet dreamlike & regal. surreal. unsettling. yet beautiful. check out her shop for more profoundly confusing art!
#3: charcoal girlie tee with fighting birds from 1AEON ($28). birds! fighting! yes! in this photo the shirt looks more blue, but in the other photos the seller includes you can tell it truly is charcoal grey. 1AEON is Gabe Molnar & Leola Olivarez, based in New York. they started printing shirts in 2004 & became very popular... now their items can be found in stores from New York to Tokyo. they've got some awesome items (as well as awesome photos) including v-necks, hoodies, totes/messenger bags, patches, buttons & scarves. go now!
#4: bird log print from matteart ($35). this is a print of an original gouache painting by the artist, Matte Stephens, measuring 8.5"x11". Matte has been painting for a living for 13 years & she has shown her work at an array of places! she lives in Portland, Oregon, & has the luck, talent, & absolute delight, I'm sure, to be an artist for her career! so check her out :)
#5: Birds sitting on a powerline wall decal from DaliDecals ($30). awesome! a wonderful addition to any room, this strand of happy birds measures 62" wide by 10" high. it is shown in black but is available in an array of other colors, if you wish. easy to apply, high quality, & gorgeous! Dali Decals is owned & operated by David & Alicia & is located in Coral Springs, Florida. they started off doing vinyl graphics for their own motorcycles & for friends & got an amazing response -- since then, they have expanded to doing custom signage, motorcycle trailers, business logos & wall art! they have a wide range of styles in their shop, something for everyone, & you can also check out their other two shops: OffensiveDecals & Badass Custom Decals !

theme: MORE ROB1TZ

2008-08-04T09:21:00.006-04:00

I considered only doing 1 day of the robotz. you know - limited-time, come get it while it's hot kind of thing. but there were still so many good items left I had to do another day. I narrowed down about 20 items to these 10 so they're the best of the best!!1!

#1: Robot M-2000 from toutoudemavie ($40 for 1). I love these! the bright colors, the dorky, teethy smiles, the black stitching. I know nothing about this seller except that she is female & lives in Montreal & has a couple other adorable plush items in her (very new) shop. her profile offers nothing but a vague "I am fathomless" which just makes me intrigued.
#2: Mr. Roboto Letterpress Thank-You card from anemoneletterpress ($14 for 4). SO PERFECT. another set of cards that I would want to buy just to HAVE. the selling point for these: "why give an ordinary thank you card, when you can say thank you *and* quote Styx?". good point. the tiny robot is perfect, the font is perfect, the green apple color is perfect! Anemone Letterpress is based in Pasadena, California, run by a couple & I am wickedly jealous because all of the items are printed on either a Vandercook press or an antique Chandler & Price platen press. check out their shop for more cards, baby shower invites & coasters!
#3: Robot t-shirt from monsterarm ($15). this t-shirt was designed & hand-printed on a hanes 50/50 beefy shirt. unfortunately it only comes in men's sizes :( Kevin Herdeman is the man behind the art. he's got some pretty awesome paintings done on glass as well as some interesting stickers. he also designs horror/sci-fi related t-shirts! eek! check him out, plz.
#4: Tiny Robot wallet from tinymeat ($14). so cheap! & so damn cute! designed by Chris Bishop (the creative mind behind PBS kids interactive) for tinymeat. these people are insanely awesome. they are Michael, Mona & Erin & seem like ridiculously chill people. their Etsy store is crazily popular (think 6,599 sales, with over 7,000 people calling them a favorite shop) so you really have no excuse not to go look! they've got almost 300 items to browse so what are you waiting for? TIME'S A WASTIN'!
#5: ROBOT TO-DO LIST from thedonutlounge ($7). I love to-do lists. I make tons of makeshift ones on random notebooks scattered around my apartment, in my purse, in my car, etc, but somehow the idea of purchasing one has eluded me - UNTIL NOW! Donna aka donut is the creative mind behind this shop filled with things like sushi-shaped cellphone charms & cards that say "I Knead You". one of the great things about this shop? prices include shipping! what you see is what you get!
#6: SushiBOT no 4 from sushipot ($95). this is the fourth piece in a series by the artist called the "SushiBOT" series. crafted from rusty, found objects & old pieces of wood, this is truly one-of-a-kind. it's a creepy robot-human-doll hybrid, complete with a(n illustration of a) heart! "Sushipot specializes in creating original small scale assemblage, collage, stationery and unique accessories for your life." The artist is Suzanna Scott, working from her studio in Manhattan, Kansas. I adore her store -- visit it to find more assemblage (including more robots!), lots of human anatomy, collages, ACEOs, tons of greeting cards, ephemera pendants (I want to buy them all), & buttons!
#7: Robots Babydoll from Deadworry ($25). hand screen printed on an Alternative Apparel gauze babydoll top in a delightful shade of green (comes in other colors as well). Deadworry is a small print shop in Fort Walton Beach, Florida & she gets her name from an Edward Gorey anagram. she's had a great deal of success on Etsy & her shop has some pretty awesome things in it: women's tees (including my favorite: the octo-owl!), men's tees, babydoll shirts & dresses, tank tops, various bags & panties!

#8: RoBoTs scalloped gift tags from FlyingMonkeyCrafts ($1.20 for 5). aw man, that tiny little robot is waving at me. these are so damn adorable & are just one of a few different robot-themed items in this shop! the seller is an experienced paper crafter who, despite being new to Etsy, is no stranger to sales. watch her store for more paper goodies!
#9: Robot Love Pendant in blue from MadisonCraftStudio ($4.50!). Hand-made by the artist but the artwork is done by Lynette May of shuusei ! all the pendants in this shop are made from origami & other fun papers which are then applied decoupage style to masonite & completed with a sterling silver plated bail. there are almost 200 pendants available in a wide range of styles & colors so take your time looking around!
#10: rock em sock em robots tee from 1600 ($15). hell yes! that's pretty much all I have to say! who doesn't love rock em sock em robots!? again, this shirt only comes in men's sizes :( this shop is based out of South Boston, Mass, & run by Scott Chasse. he's got a small shop so far but with a t-shirt rocking a mountain goat on it, how can you go wrong?

theme: R0B0TZ

2008-08-02T07:44:00.003-04:00

I could only hold onto the balloon theme for so long. And by "so long" I mean "one day". The next logical step was this: ROBOTZ. I love robots. hell, everyone loves robots. until the day when they take over the earth, which I think we all know is rapidly approaching.

#1: Robots Unisex V Neck from luchaworkshop ($26). a whole crapload of robots printed with water-based ink on an American Apparel 100% cotton jersey v-neck. this shop is run by two artists, Christina & Ronnie, in Miami. they design & screenprint all the items by hand. they have a pretty extensive list of items in their store, as well as an extensive list of sales (almost 2,000!). you can find a ton more shirts (men's, women's & unisex), bags & totes, dresses, kids' shirts, prints, undies & scarves. go now!
#2: robot graphic mini-mousepad from crrysstall ($6 for 1). itty bitty 4" x 4" mousepads, complete with a hand-drawn robot by Crystal J. Robinson, an artist in Richmond, Virginia. she focuses primarily on silk painting, while also creating iron-on transfer t-shirts & mousepads. she is currently a freelance interior designer! she has lots of really excellent silk scarves, ties, pillows, pouches, & blankets, as well as mousepads, graphic tees & some upcycled items. check her out -- she has FREE SHIPPING within the US on all SALE + CLEARANCE items!
#3: Fawn Robotic print from chrisbrindley ($20). this print measures 8" by 10" & is original mixed media & digital artwork made by Chris Brindley. he has an itty bitty shop with some AMAZING prints in it. his artwork & characters look like they're from another world - one I'd like to live in.
#4: Robot matchboxes from chezlarsson ($5 for 4). such cute little things - perfect for storing keys, hairpins, paper clips, Xanax, coins, nails & screws, tiny pouches of heroin -- ya know, whatever you have lying around. the artist is Benita from Stockholm & her store is fairly new but off to a good start! give it a look.
#5: Robot Box Bag from rohmer ($24). this lady is a full-time highschool teacher who sews some lovely little bags. she has a wide range of patterns & designs on them, from nature to animals to banjos to robots! she also has cloth coasters & some Gocco printed cards! she welcomes custom orders so if you have some fabric at home that you love, send it on over to her & she'll make you a cute little bag out of it.
#6: Complex Actions Series B print from jasongamber ($20). this guy (presumably, Jason Gamber) is awesome. I can only describe his work with a list of words: apocalyptic, intricate, vaguely disturbing, explosive & chaotic. YES!
#7: robot postcards from the sea from burrowburrow ($4.99 for 5). SO NEAT. two squids, a shark, a whale & a jellyfish - BUT ROBOTS. Ann Smith is the owner of this shop & such a talent. her shop includes more fantastic cards like these as well as animal & insect sculptures made from broken electronic & machine parts AND (hand carved from wax & cast in pewter) goat & ram-shaped spreaders. such an interesting & unique shop!
#8: Boris Robot Box Art print from johnwgolden ($20). okay so maybe I love this guy & his shop. there's not much I can say here that I didn't say in my last feature about him, except that you should also check out him & his wife's shop, motanddot, where they sell customizable art for kids! you should really check out his shop, too, because the man's got almost 400 pieces of original artwork to offer!!!
#9: I Heart Robot tee from whootiz ($20). designed by Youngsun Compton & hand-silkscreened by Deitees on an American Apparel TR-401 tri-blend short sleeve t-shirt. check out their (his?) shop for more excellent t-shirts.
#10: Techno-Robo from Littlebrownbyrd ($23). a tiny little robot jamming out to music & made from recycled polyester :) the lady who runs this shop is a self-proclaimed "robot loving photographer in training". she works at a bookstore by day & as a mad robot-creator at night! she also has a few little animals in her shop, too, so go look around!

theme: BALLOONS!

2008-07-30T06:58:00.006-04:00

wow, this was actually a tough theme. the keyword "balloon", along with ones like oh, say, "pink" or "frilly", tends to come up with lots of cutesy items. there's nothing wrong with cutesy! it's just not my style. so here are some really amazing things I found.

#1: Bliss from AFancifulTwist ($20). so whimsical & classic & yet unusual & sort of sad. the creator is Vanessa Valencia, someone who believes that artists should not be tied to only one medium. she has a large variety of items in her shop: more prints similar to this one (and just as beautiful), original art dolls (interesting!), varied styles of prints, postcards, stickers, & even a miniature tea set. she is very Alice in Wonderland. check her out!
#2: Happy Birthday Elephant card from stitchface ($3.50). I love that he seems to be hovering from the grass & is apparently surprised by this judging from the look on his face! the lady who runs this shop is Danielle & she has "a soft spot for all things cute and geeky". her shop is still fairly new, but she has such cute little things in it, I know it's only a matter of time before it explodes into a cloud of sales.
#3: Balloon Dress from suigenerisclothing ($75). a bold white, black & mustard yellow print with a sweetheart neckline - can you really go wrong? it even has pockets! this dress is even custom made for the buyer. Jordan de Ruiter is the mind behind this itty bitty little shop (only 2 items!) but the clothing is also available at some real-life locations in Ontario - very exciting!
#4: Up, Up and Away pendant from blockpartypress ($25). I am sure tons of you on-lookers already know this shop - how could you not? - but I am IN LOVE with it. all the items in this shop are handmade from polymer clay & painted with acrylic paint. all the stamps used for the designs are hand carved by this amazing lady! she's got a little bit of everything: TONS of pendants with all kinds of designs (flowers, cat tails, trees, leaves, vines, animals, fruits), necklaces, adorable freaking earrings, rings, hair pins, brooches, belt buckles, pins, cuff links, magnets, even ACEOs. I can't say enough good things about this shop so just look for yourself! I'm already going to have to resist putting an item of hers in every theme I do!
#5: Penny farthing for your thoughts print from irenesuchocki ($30). this print measures 8" by 8" & is just so strange & good. this is another artist that I discovered (and admired) before I even knew what Etsy was. I stumbled across her website after seeing a photo of hers who-knows-where & there it has lived in my favorites list ever since. so I was delighted to discover her on Etsy as well! it's so weird how an artist being on Etsy almost makes them more human. like they're not just this person hidden behind a website - they're on a site like Etsy, interacting with other artists, even ones as inexperienced as myself. anyways, she is a fellow photographer, like myself, & her work is amazing. they all look like stills from a dream, or maybe a gauzy, pastel French movie.
#6: Hats Off tee from holyholyghost ($14!). women's size small, printed on an American Apparel sea foam green tee. I think it's a dude who makes these shirts but I cannot be sure - either way he/she seems cool. his/her designs "combine hand illustration and images appropriated from the past". neat!
#7: Head Parade print from MultiplePersonality ($22). this print measures 6.25" by 13" & is hand-drawn & digitally colored by the creator, Sara Harvey. I like how creepy this print is & yet... not, at the same time. c'mon! their heads are on strings like balloons! that's a little creepy, right? she is "a designer by day and a super hero, zombie hunter, illustrator, painter, plush maker, and anything else I can make maker by night". teehee. check her out!
#8: Balloon print from rbozuk ($30). this print measures 8" by 8", printed on 8" by 10" paper. taken with a Hasselblad 501! yes! it was captured on Old St, London, England of a well-known Banksy piece of art (if you don't know who Banksy is, please, just click on the link). I am normally very picky about any photography prints that I see but this one is excellent. the artist, Rowan Butler, presently works as a studio photographer in London.
#9: Skull Boy and the Balloon print from EMONIC ($250). original acrylic painting on a 12" by 16" rectangle basswood plaque. Emonic is an illustration graphic artist & has lots of interesting, vaguely creepy pieces of work to browse, including posters, a shirt & some sketchbooks. go snag one!
#10: HELIUM print from justmadbooks ($15!). this print measures 11" by 14" & has FREE SHIPPING within the US (omg). this guy, Justin Madson, has some really awesome stuff; he is a self-taught cartoonist/illustrator "who has been treading water in the indie comic book scene for the past six(ish) years, winning readers over with beautifully-rendered tales of detachment, wonder and hope". my god. & he sells coffee to pay the bills. & he loves Etsy. this man is basically a male version of myself. check out his shop for more prints, comic books (!), & shirts.

theme: last of grassy green!

2008-07-29T08:23:00.006-04:00

so I've decided screw it -- I will start posting these themes in batches of 10. or batches of 7. or 11. OR WHATEVER I WANT! aah the freedom of having my own blog. it might make the planets pop out of alignment but that is neither here nor there! I will do what I please, & today's number is TEN (feel like you're on sesame street?)

#1: simple leaf card from modernradar ($12 for 4). not only is this such a perfect shade of green but I love the tiny little leaves & how simply & springy these cards are. I think if I bought them, I wouldn't even have the heart to send them out to anyone. one might even go in a frame on the wall. Tamara runs this little shop out of Durham, North Carolina, & designs & prints all the items herself. she tries to use recycled or vintage materials to create, package & ship her products! she's got tons more cards, all with a very SPRING theme to them, as well as tote bags, pouches & some supplies.
#2: Green Grass Pin from vanessakimball ($1!). SO CUTE. fits in with the theme PERFECTLY ("grassy green") & just so damn adorable. measures 1" in case you're wondering. this particular illustration also comes in the form of a print & notecards. Vanessa Kimball is a graphic designer for a company called Ekcetera Productions & a self-proclaimed Lipsmackers lip gloss addict :) check out her store for more pins, prints, & notecards!
#3: Mosaic Pear Sculpture from raquelmasri ($125). what a conversation piece! it measures 10" tall without the stem (11 1/2" with the stem) & 9" at its widest point. there's just something about fruit-shaped sculptures. it's not your typical plastic-fruit-in-a-bowl decoration. it's not afraid - it's like HEY! I'M A PEAR! I'M ALL LIME GREEN & STUFF! LOOK AT ME! awesome. Raquel Masri is an artist who has been working with porcelain ever since it distracted her from her original work with fused glass & mosaics, & has a background in graphic design. her store is filled with all kinds of hand-made home decor pieces, including dishes, shadow boxes, vases, coasters, paperweights, tiles, sculpture, bowls & buttons!
#4: Shadows earrings from betsy3 ($23). I LOVE this woman's shop. I first saw it a few months ago when we happened to be in the same chatroom together, & I am hooked. not only does she have wickedly gorgeous jewelry, but AMAZING photographs! these photos could be fine art pieces all by themselves. her name is Elena & she is an architect & graphic designer by day, & a jewelry designer by night! right now would be a great time to check out her store as she is having a sale! 10% off any 1 item, 15% off any 2 items, & 20% off any 3 items!!!
#5: SOCKTOPUS giclee print from boygirlparty ($20). I love this lady, too. her name is Susie Ghahremani & I first discovered her work at least a year or two ago when I found this wallet while wandering around online. she has a very unique style & it is reflected in her work. squirrels playing guitars, octopi (?), tiny owls, cats on top of pianos -- she is a woman after my own heart! check out her shop, you will not be disappointed. & if you're in the LA area, go see her & her artwork at Giant Robot (2062 Sawtelle Blvd) August 16 - September 10 for her solo art show!
#6: Green Grass Luggage from Preserve ($30). I am dying to get my hands on this. I don't even travel much (who has the money to travel?) but I just want to prop it against a wall somewhere. Preserve totally supports this ideal -- they take outdated, unused, neglected pieces of luggage & refresh them with new style so they can be used as art pieces as well as necessary items for travel. This particular piece is a vintage green Samsonite suitcase that has been remade in Detroit, Michigan with a hand-cut stencil. Honestly, aside from checking out their Etsy shop, you really need to check out their website: Preserve.
#7: Leda Necklace from wedreamincolour ($32). something about the sea-green paired with vintage brass that really gets me. this is a mere 1 of over 40 stunning pieces of jewelry in this shop. the creator is Jade Gedeon & a small bit from her profile: "The pieces are witty, surprising and fashioned to stand out from the crowd ensuring the wearer sparkles from season to season.". Indeed!
#8: Giraffe Wooden Pull Toy from cookiedough ($18). another piece that would be semi-useless to me (alas, no children!) but hell - who needs kids to play with a pull toy? or ANY toy? this giraffe would look great sitting on a shelf or a windowsill somewhere so to hell with babies. if you ARE a parent, rest assured knowing that the creator, Tina, only uses LEAD-FREE & NON-TOXIC materials! she seems like a very sweet lady & has lots of very cool, modern toys available in her shop, as well as jewelry, wall art & frames!
#9: The Beach Bar from savannahsoapkitchen ($3.75 for 3.75oz). not only does it LOOK pretty, it'll make your skin feel pretty, too. it contains aloe vera for soothing & calming, with exfoliating sea kelp inside -- perfect after a day at the beach! unscented & vegan-friendly! the shop's owner is Robin Lynne from Savannah, Georgia. her previous sole focus was photography & jewelry but has recently decided to dive into soapmaking as well! check out her shop for all the delicious scents she offers & take advantage of her SALE: now through AUGUST 4TH get 2 soaps for $7!
#10: Mossiga Tulipaner earrings from executeme ($19). such beautiful, glossy little tulips! the lady who runs this shop is originally from Stockholm, Sweden, & now sells photography & jewelry here in the US of A. her jewelry is mostly made from very old vintage beads, some dating as far back as World War I. she seems to have had great success with her jewelry, which I'm sure is greatly attributed to the fact that her pieces are wonderfully simple, classy, & can easily be taken from day to night. perfect! she is also having a sale for you buyers from across the seas -- FREE worldwide shipping from July 21st to August 3rd!

theme: grassy green v. 2

2008-07-28T07:24:00.004-04:00

YIPEE! 10 items today because the boyfriend & I spent all yesterday painting (so much work but so, so worth it). just so you know, & to avoid any confusion/competition (ha), the numbers beside the items are just that: numbers, not rank! I pick 5 (or in today's case, 10) items & simply upload the lot of them. usually their order is based on whichever items I found first!

#1: recycled poppy bobby pin set in peacock from foundling ($12 for 2). I love how small & simple these are. they're just tiny little poppies that I'm sure would look fantastic & delicate in a giant swirl of hair (or a big mane, like mine). the lady who runs this shop is Betsy, & she says she "loves repurposing things that have outlived their first purposes" -- everything in her shop incorporates vintage, found, recycled or repurposed materials - yay! she has tons more poppies available, in a rainbow of different colors, as well as earrings, necklaces, cufflinks, prints, & rings.
#2: Kaleidoscope hand silk screened print on Hemp linen top from Greenworks ($45). can I just say that I love this top because I can only imagine how breezy & comfortable it is? plus the combo of Hemp linen & low impact dyes used to make this shirt can make you feel even better about wearing it. two friends (Irish & Latvian) from Ireland run this shop & it is filled with clothes made with organic & fair trade material. they also have some very interesting recycled seat belt wall art that is definitely worth checking out!
#3: Breezy Summer Cocktail Dress from rubypearl ($190). this dress was hand-sewn (literally by hand, with a needle & thread) by the shop's creator, Sunny Haralson. her clothes are truly one-of-a-kind, very unique & artsy, yet very light & feminine. she encourages custom orders & welcomes orders of all sizes!
#4: Dreamweaver Green earrings from Orgellan ($59). beautiful, dreamy earrings with a lime green Peridot oval suspended within. the shop's creator, Claire, a self-taught jewelry designer, has lots of gorgeous & unique jewelry filling her store. very colorful & whimsical! check her out!
#5: Peacock Poofy Sleeve Top from stevester ($27). apparently I love peacocks. & this particular sage-y shade of green. plus poofy sleeves are ALWAYS a dealbreaker. I am weak. anyways! this shirt is one-size-fits-all, hand silkscreened on an Alternative Apparel shirt. Stephanie is the owner of this shop & she is in love with Vermont & draws much of her inspiration from the gorgeous state! she has a wide range of clothing/bag items in her shop, both men's & women's clothing, as well as tote bags & messenger bags. if you check her out ASAP, she is having a sale! BUY 2 SHIRTS & GET 1 FREE TOTE BAG! go go go!
#6: Letterpress Gift Tags from sycamorestreetpress ($10 for 9). adorable little tags with a lime green tree & tiny brown hearts. the store is run by Eva & Kirk Jorgensen & their beautiful letterpressed items are made on their vintage Vandercook flatbed letterpress in their dining room (there is just something so charming about that image). they have so many beautiful things to look at: more gift tags, cards, various art pieces, frame mats & notecard sets. just from doing this little highlight they have become one of my favorite Etsy shops!
#7: HIPPO MASK print from MATTY8080 ($6!). so damn awesome. this particular print measures 8.5" by 11", printed on 60lb archival cardstock. & it is awesome. the man is not only crazily talented but hilarious, too. WIN WIN! to prove his awesomeness, he has a MEGA SHARK WEEK MEGA SALE going on right now, due to his love of shark week on the Discovery Channel. he's got some funny art, some vaguely disturbing art, but I'd buy it all if I could. damn, I'd dedicate a room in my apartment for it. CHECK HIM OUT. NOW.
#8: Georgia print from mycharliegirl ($18). this woman is so, so talented. I occasionally peruse her store just so I can look at the different illustrations & be in awe. her name is Bec Winnel, from Melbourne, Australia, where she works by day as a graphic designer. she does hand-drawn illustrations as well as digital collages. her drawings are just so delicate & detailed & airy -- go see for yourself!
#9: Double Dogs leash rack from bumblebellydesigns ($35). so darn cute! I don't even have a dog but I wish I had several so I could buy this. her name is Amy, she values customer service above all else (except maybe quality of her items) & she welcomes custom orders! she has several more (equally adorable) leash racks as well as mini art, custom name plaques, pillows, & cards.
#10: PENCIL BAG from ObscuritiesHotGlass ($12.99). gah! look at the fat little hippos with little star-tails! damn cute. her name is Rebecca & she is the sister of TuffAsSnails. Rebecca is using her sister's leftover fabric scraps from dress-making & making her own little crafty goods as a means to pay her fall tuition! she has some amazingly cute items such as wristlets, makeup bags, large totes, pouches & boxy bags. go check her out & help her pay for school!

theme: grassy green

2008-07-26T17:13:00.002-04:00

#1: Fisherman's Wife brooch from yaelfran ($22). this is, without a doubt, HANDS DOWN, the cutest shop on Etsy. the lady who runs it is from Buenos Aires, a mother & a graphic designer, & she has the most adorable creations. she's no stranger to selling her products & has excellent feedback! her items are just so tiny, so fragile & precious, I love them! (oh & she's super nice, too!)
#2: SLR camera super diagram mitt from girlscantell ($12!). combine my love of SLRs, the color green & cooking and KA-BLAM! you've got this cute little oven mitt. girlscantell is run by one girl out of south Philadelphia & her screenprinted pieces are all from her own designs. her store offers a slew of other items: potholders, oven mitts, placemats, cloth napkins, & cork coasters, with some excellent hand screenprinted designs!
#3: Burp from amberalexander ($17!). one of many wonderful watercolors from this shop, this one features a smug, fat little toad. who doesn't love toads? I run around my Mom's backyard looking for tiny ones. anyways -- this print measures 8" by 10" & has really great detail to it. she has over 80 items in her shop, almost all of them animal-themed. wonderful stuff!
#4: lime earrings from smashing ($37). very geometrical, very bright yet subdued, they almost look like a bent paperclip - which I love! this lady's shop is filled with very interesting, unique jewelry, all handmade! check her out!
#5: Robot Toddler Tee from MamaRobot ($20). such a freaking cute robot design silkscreened onto a grass green 100% cotton American Apparel short sleeve tee. the lady who runs it is Amanda Baehr Fuller - a designer in the animation industry in New York City & quite the talented woman. she has more kids' clothes, including onesies, as well as grown-up clothes (for "grown up bots"), prints, cards, & "tiny fun things" (heehee). please check her out!

theme: GREEN!

2008-07-25T15:55:00.010-04:00

this theme was inspired (as well as suggested) by my Mom. she loves the color green, one shade in particular, & honestly the color reminds me of her. you know how they say that certain colors evoke different emotions? blue is supposed to be soothing while red is supposed to evoke passion? well green evokes Mom.

#1: Pistachio Truffle from morelle ($72). such a classy bag! I love the pleats, I adore the color & the fact that it's called "pistachio truffle" definitely doesn't hurt. I am a sucker for intriguing names (as well as shiny packaging). the lady that makes these gorgeous bags is Katie, from Amsterdam. her purpose is to make handbags that are functional but also stylish. her shop is absolutely gorgeous - muted, understated hues paired with classic, timeless shapes. one of my favorite shops :)
#2: Teapot Moss Terrarium from madebymavis ($48). neat! a clear teapot filled with slow growing moss that needs very little care aside from bright indirect sunlight. the shop owner's name is Ana but she insists you call her Mavis :) she also silk-screens but enjoys the peace & calm she feels when she works on these wonderful terrariums. her shop is filled with all different "shapes" of terrariums, all in different styles & sizes of jars, depending on your personal aesthetic, & she also sells zipper pouches & totes!
#3: Secret Garden Locket from botanicalbird ($22). alright, I might be pushing it with this one -- there's only a tiny bit of aqua in there but it's my blog, dammit, & I love this locket! lockets in general are precious but I love the gun metal finish on this one, love the contrast between the actual locket & the delicate, frosty beads. perfect! the lady who runs this shop is a gardener & artist living in Portland, Oregon, & her shop is filled with really beautiful garden & nature inspired jewelry.
#4: Apple Green Drop Earrings from JuliaCatherine ($14!). these earrings are an absolute steal. the sterling silver ear wires are handmade & she believes that the green grass briolette drops are antique! even better! the shop owner, Julia Catherine, has been creating jewelry since she was a child, & her experience (& passion) shows. check out her shop for TONS more gorgeous earrings, as well as pendants/necklaces, bracelets, nose jewelry & rings.
#5: Bamboo Leaf Summer Dress from Arfeiniel ($42). this dress is so damn cute. I could pull a cliche "now who says kids can't be stylish, too?" but instead I will just say that I love this because even though it comes in only toddler sizes, I wish I could wear it myself! it is made from Robert Kaufman's greenSTYLE line bamboo blend fabric (which you should also check out because WOW). this shop is run by a lady named Stefanie Burt who is also a children & family photographer in Denver, Colorado. her store currently is jam-packed with primarily girls' clothes but also some hats, headbands & hair accessories & it is almost worth checking out for the photography alone ;)

THEME: last of the whales!

2008-07-24T07:45:00.008-04:00

Last batch of whale goodies... :)

#1: Blue Whale onesie from AMOandCECI ($25). This is such a simple, clean & light onesie, made out of 100% organic cotton. If you love the design, it is available on a T-shirt as well! This store is based out of San Francisco & is BRAND SPANKING NEW, just waiting to be filled with painfully cute (and Earth friendly!) clothes for your tiny one.

#2: Lil Whalebone necklace from vesperjewelry ($45). This just cracks me up -- it's a drumstick! It's a whale! It's freaking adorable is what it is. The store is run by a lady named Jessi out of Seattle, Washington, & has many strange & interesting jewelry pieces & she is currently working on a batch of rings for casual wear & engagement/weddings so visit often!
#3: White Sperm Whale print from eggmanstudios ($12!). Many of this artist's pieces, to me anyway, have almost a circus theme to them which I find odd & strangely intriguing! It is run by a lady named Michelle Knowlen out of Puget Sound, Washington. She calls her work "a little bit of lovely with a healthy spattering of bizarre" which just makes her a woman after my own heart. Visit her shop for plenty more paintings, prints, ACEOs, notecards, rings & other wearables!
#4: Whale Hero from johannawright ($25). Another print that I am IN LOVE with. The tiny crooked buildings! His smile! Those beady eyes! *sigh* This print measures 8" by 8" with a 1" border around the edges. Her shop is filled with tons more prints & various sized paintings & they are all very whimsical, very child-like & VERY colorful!
#5: River Whale from skullknocker ($77). He just looks so angry & vengeful! & he's a hefty guy, weighing in at 2 whole pounds. He is made with new & recycled materials & contains a walnut heart, which I love. In case you're wondering (and you are), "skullknocker" is defined as "skeptical two limbed creatures that inhabit small corners of living space across the northeast. prone to sloth and murderous looks". The seller calls herself Lamb & has been a featured seller on Etsy (not surprising).

THEME: yay for whales!

2008-07-23T15:34:00.009-04:00

Yes, you guessed it, MORE WHALES. Heck yes. I swear, only a few more days -- my love affair with whales won't be over, that's for sure, but I won't subject you to it for much longer!

#1: Whale from meobrien ($20). This is a print measuring 7.4" by 11" & I adore it. I'm really only waiting until I can afford to spend some money to snatch it up. I love everything from the whale's face to the color & style of the flowers to the melancholy, greyish background. This shop is run by a lady named Maureen out of Detroit & only has a few other prints in it at the moment but seems very promising!
#2: Off Nantucket mixed media wall quilt from jennythreads ($990). This is just an insane piece of art. I mean that in the best way possible. The process that went into making this is quite impressive & it came out beautifully. It measures 29" high by 27" wide & is able to be hung from any wall surface. The creator, Jenny, has a great store with more mixed media art, prints & books! She has a full line of art, some of which is not on her Etsy shop, including handmade & hand-dyed silk clothing available for viewing at jennythreads.net!
#3: The Colossal Whale print from johnwgolden ($20). This print measures 8.5" by 11" & is fantastic. Very mellow, very relaxed. This dude has been working in digital art since the late '80s & his shop is proof of his talent - all-around amazing stuff. He's even got some photography prints & jewelry thrown in there for good measure. You will NOT be disappointed.

#4: The Blue Whale Boat Neck from circularaccessories ($30). Even forgetting the accidental (or was it?) silliness of "blue whale" & "BOAT neck" in the same sentence, this is an adorable shirt. Great choice in style, great choice in colors, & great illustration! The lady who runs this store (out of Baton Rouge, Louisiana) seems very relaxed & down-to-earth. She has a wide variety of hand silkscreened items among other things. Tons of shirts, in all kinds of styles, as well as some hoodies, dresses, onesies, infant clothing, pocket mirrors & stationery - the woman does it all! She's no stranger to Etsy & has an amazing store to prove it!

#5: Sperm Whale puzzle from mlwmerk ($19.99). This is just so damn excellent. A puzzle in the shape of the animal while also spelling out the animal's name. Yes! This shop is run out of Windsor, Connecticut, & is still very new to Etsy. The gentleman that makes these is obviously quite talented & has tons of other puzzles available in all sorts of animal shapes! Whee!

THEME: more whales!

2008-07-22T09:50:00.000-04:00

I can't get enough of them! I thought I would change up the theme today but there's just so much more neat whale stuff to be discovered!

#1: Bird and Whale print from falldowntree ($15!). This print, inspired by a Tom Waits song by the same name, measures 10" by 10". The shop is run out of Farmington, Utah, & has some of the neatest prints I've seen in a while. Very cartoon-y yet strangely dark at the same time - a good combination, in my book.

#2: Brainy Whale Tee from spittingimage ($26). This t-shirt is freaking awesome. Printed on a unisex fine jersey American Apparel t-shirt, the French reads "grand est le cerveau de la baleine", literally meaning "large is the brain of the whale". SO GREAT. The shop is run by a brother-sister team out of Orange County. It is filled with some great (& funny) designs (& lots of whales) printed on pendants, onesies, t-shirts, & tote bags. They're a favorite shop of mine so you should look them up!

#3: Cutie the Whale necklace from designalicious. I love the choice of colors on this, the gorgeous golds & blues together. This shop is run by Ali out of San Francisco, California, & she's got it filled with really great jewelry. Check her out!

#4: Whale Buckle from buncombebuckles ($54). I just love the distressed look of this, & the copper is perfect. This shop is based out of Asheville, North Carolina, & run by Celia Gray - quite impressive for one person, if you ask me. The buckles are made from discarded metal parts collected from scrapyards & antique stores, which is something to feel good about! She's got some more excellent buckles in her store as well as some VEGAN belts, so check her out!

#5: Tiny Whale Pendant from squirrelbunny. LOOK AT THAT TINY LITTLE FACE! I would wear this every day. I can't even imagine how many compliments I would get! This shop is run by a girl named Jessica out of New Orleans. It is still very new & she only has 5 items up so far but that's just a good excuse to stick around & see what else she comes up with! You can pick up this adorable, tiny whale for $27.

THEME: whales!

2008-07-21T19:16:00.000-04:00

I love whales - love them in clothing form, in jewelry form, illustration form, anything you can throw at me that has a whale on it will AT LEAST evoke a giggle! so here are some of my favorite whale-themed items from Etsy.

#1: I Heart Books monster rubber stamp from vozamer. This stamp made me giggle the first time I saw it. The dorky grin on that narwhal's face - who couldn't love that? Plus he loves books - I wonder if he's married.... anyways! The owner of the store seems to be a big nerd, just like me, so she seems like a cool chick. She is based out of Pawtucket, Rhode Island, & has many dorky, chuckle-inspiring items in her shop - definitely worth checking out!

#2: Bashful Whale Pin Cushion from blueberrybandit. This may be the cutest thing I've ever seen. The eyes! The tail! The fact that the pins look like water shooting out of its blowhole! Good lord. Anyways, this shop is run by a girl named Sara, a self-proclaimed "lover/creator of all things cute", based out of Athens, Georgia. Her shop is just chock-full of adorable things: cards, prints, cupcake shaped gift tags! Hurry up & check it out - & swipe this pincushion for $35 while you're there.
#3: Lifting a Dreamer Field Bag from rainbowswirlz. This shop is run full-time by a married couple based in Oklahoma. They seem to be quite excited by the business & have not only an amazing sale record (almost 1,000!) but an equally impressive feedback percentage (99!). Their shop is filled with some gorgeous stuff; from v-necks to tunics to onesies. This bag, adorned with a happy green whale, is $20 - not bad!

#4: Quite A Catch 8x10 Print from GumballGrenade. she is an independent artist based out of Utah & seems like quite a lovely lady! I actually just purchased some items of hers, with this same illustration - a pocket mirror & a magnet - & cannot wait to receive them in the mail! her shop features a delightful array of prints, as well as some gift tags, paintings, pocket mirrors, journals, magnets, & stationery - something for everyone. the characters in her artwork are wonderfully childlike & dreamy - very nice!

#5: Page No. 17 - Whale Tale Print from labpartners. This seller is located in San Francisco, California, & has a delightful little shop filled with very retro, mod prints. They seem to have an impressive following & their sales show it! I just love this print & could see it hanging in any room in my apartment - could that whale be any cuter? Plus it goes for a modest $15. Yipee!