Tuesday Treats: Valentine Treat Accessories on Etsy

     Children LOVE Valentine parties! Growing up, it was always exciting to go around the classroom dropping a Valentine card into each child's Valentine bag. The bags were part of the previous day's craft project and had each child's name on them. We always had cupcakes made by one of the moms and maybe some Kool-aid to drink along with them. Although it was the age of penny candy, our focus was more on the Valentine cards than on Valentine candy. Things have changed a lot since then. Candy companies market candy for every occasion, now days, and most children's parties, even in the classroom, involve candy treats of some kind. In a lot of classrooms the focus has changed somewhat. There's just as much giving of Valentine candy treats as there are Valentine cards. The shops at Etsy offer some cute Valentine treat accessories to make any Valentine party just a little more exciting.  Take a look at some of the following Valentine treat accessories offer on Etsy

     Two Precious Creations is a shop that focuses on creating artisan quality paper products. Diane, the owner of Two Precious Creations, enjoys working with florals and scrapbooking materials. Her creative flare and attention to detail have contributed to the beautifully unique items she offers. The following photos are an example of her work. Her Valentine Treat Box Set of 6 adds just the perfect, thoughtful touch! Take advantage of her free shipping on domestic orders through Jan. 27. Use the coupon code: val 14 at check out!

     Cel Sobrepena enjoys babies, reading, walks in the park, and anything handmade, especially paper crafts. Her love of each of those things is evident is the beautiful work she does. Please take the time to browse through her shop August Angel. You'll be glad you did! The following photos are of her Valentine Treat Holders (Set of 12). They are guaranteed to add a touch of "class" to any treat gift.

     Darlene Preston and her daughter are the owners and the  Craftie Chicks behind a wonderful little Etsy shop called, "Craftie Chick". They love anything craftie and sell their items at craft shows together. They offer a wide variety of paper craft products in their shop. One of my favorites is their set of 12 Valentine Treat Bags. Take a look at them in the following photo and then head on over to Craftie Chicks to check out the other great items they offer.

For great Valentine Day gifts don't forget to browse my shops: 

Funwear 

and 

Cherokee Magnolias 

on Etsy!

Friendly Friday: What will you get your Valentine?

What will you get your Valentine? I know it's early, but it's time to think about Valentine's Day, especially if you think you may be ordering via the internet - gotta allow for shipping time. Etsy offers Valentine's Day gift ideas for him and her. There's nothing that says, "I love you" quite like quality handmade art work and creative crafting. The following items are just a few of the wonderful Valentine's Day gift ideas offered on Etsy.com

     Mai ("May") McKenny the artist / shop owner of "Woodland Belle" was the first artist on Etsy to introduce "tiny terrarium jewelry" and has also been one of Etsy's featured artists. She has an entire collection of "tiny terrarium jewelry" that she has designed and she continues to explore ideas related to it. She has included both flora and fauna within the collection, designing pieces that celebrate nature. Her "tiny terrarium jewelry" is very "time-intensive", which impacts how readily available some of her items are at different times of the year. Check out her shop at "Woodland Belle" to see more of the beautiful jewelry she designs and creates. The following photo is an example of her work titled

"Necklace Terrarium Red Rose Flower Valentines Day Gift"

     Melissa, of the shop "M Stevenson Designs", creates some beautiful jewelry, also. She specializes in lockets and pendants, many with images engraved on them. She has even made a pendant for a movie starring Miley Cyrus! She has quite a few original designs, from traditional, edgy modern, Victorian, to oriental and everything in between. Check out her shop at "M Stevenson Designs" on Etsy! The following photo is her "Skeleton Locket, Valentines Day Necklace"

     Nick is the master designer for the Etsy shop "KME Designs" and is the creator of their "Unisex Leather Wrap Designs" collection. He has a strong fashion sense and is always on the look out for the new and trendy styles that make people happy. Many of his bracelets are truly unisex - both men and women wear them - and they are designed to be equally beautiful worn alone, or layered together. You can check out more of his designs at "KME Designs". The following is his 

Chan Luu Style Red Leather And Silver Heart Wrap Bracelet - Valentines Day For Her

Have fun browsing Etsy for Valentine's Day gifts and while you're there check out my shops: Funwear and Cherokee Magnolias

 

Thirsty Thursday........."Thirsty" on Etsy

     OK, why am blogging about "Thirsty" on Etsy?  To tell you the truth, I was throwing words around to rhyme with "Thursday" and thought of "thirsty". I decided to search "thirsty" under the handmade category at Etsy, just for fun. To my surprise 263 items popped up under "thirsty". Here are a few of the most unusual and unique "thirsty" items from that search.

     The first item is from an interesting shop called, "Jessi Taylor" that announces itself with "step right up, folks; you have to see it to believe it".  The jewelry offered at "Jessi Taylor" is absolutely unique and will make your friends sit up and take notice. The  "Thirsty Eyeball Ring" is a talisman or amulet in sterling silver, set with a hand-painted taxidermist eye. The ring is listed as a version of the evil eye and is meant to "guide us to the brink, light the path, and strike fear into the hearts of our enemies". Pretty powerful ring! Check it out here and then check out the other amazing items available at jessitaylor

     

Beccas Little Monsters offers "recreated stuffed animals, reanimated from the dead. 

Becca's Little Monsters are the cutest monsters/zombies on the block!" Her 

Zombie Goose  "has had his wing ripped off, intestines ripped through his skin and his 

neck sliced open.... but he's still going trying to eat brains. " Sooo cute! This is the perfect

 fun gift for any zombie lover! Take a 

look at the rest of her shop at BeccasLittleMonsters on Etsy!       

     Nikky, at "With Love, Bunny" on Etsy, describes her shop as "silly, rockin, bunnytastic". She's very  creative and makes some "one of a kind", unique items. Browse through her shop and you'll see what I mean. Her "The Bunnicula: WLB Character Bunnies Pouch" is sure to get attention! Check out her shop at WithLoveBunny!

While you're browsing Etsy, check out my shops Funwear and Cherokee Magnolias!

 

Friday Free Shipping! Great Gift Ideas For Valentine's Day on Etsy!

     Browsing for gifts on Etsy can be fun if you have the time to relax and enjoy it, but it can also be time consuming and a little overwhelming if you're in a crunch for time. Most people shop for gifts with a purpose, event or holiday in mind and most of us have some sort of gift in mind as we begin our search. I often have my budget in mind, as well, and then become a little "sticker shocked" when the shipping is added to my shopping cart. It's very frustrating to realize that the cost of shipping has put my gift idea completely out of reach and I will now have to continue searching and possibly scale back my gift budget, so that I can afford the shipping fee.

     Well, the good news is that there is an easier way to shop quickly, stay within your budget, and find that perfect gift! Shop the "Free Shipping Search" at Etsy. It delivers all of the shops that are offering free shipping, right to your finger tips. Just scan by gender, item, and price and then you're done. You never have to worry that the shipping fees will nudge that perfect gift out of the reach of your budget.  It's fast, fun, and efficient! Here are a few examples of the great gifts I found shopping the "Free Shipping Search":

    Daniela Brill was trained as an archaeological restorer at the National Museum in Bucharest. Her jewelry company, Venexia Jewelry,  is now based in Tel Aviv, Israel. She describes her jewelry making style as "timeless yet modern". Check out her Etsy shop at Venexia Jewelry by Dany B and take a look at her "Sterling Silver Bangle Charm Bracelet" 

     Southern Living 26 is another jewelry shop on Etsy, so ladies take notice for Valentine's Day! This little shop specializes in handmade cufflinks. Whatever your guy is into, you'll find something that will appeal to him here! They have several cufflink designs with free shipping, so stop by SouthernLiving26 and have a look. The following photo is their "Free shipping / Mens Cufflinks- Copper Fashion Cufflinks, Silver Motorcycle Design, with a Gift Box"

For all of your Sci Fi friends, boyfriends, and family members, take a look at Iapetus 09.  Malc is the owner of a Iapetus 09 and a lover of Sci Fi, photography and T-shirt design. His "FREE SHIPPING Jokercons: Transformers V Batman T-shirt" in the following photo is perfect for your own Sci Fi guy.  Don't forget to check out his shop at http://www.etsy.com/shop/iapetus09

Joan, of Joan's Gardens, has been making cold process soap and skin care products for 10 years. Her education and experience as an RN, combined with her love of gardening and working with herbs, seemed to naturally lead her into soap making. She loves all aspects of it and has studied and experimented to constantly improve her products. For example, her soaps are poured into unique molds and dried for 3 weeks to make the harder and longer lasting. Check out her lip gloss, soaps, lotions, and solid perfumes at JoansGardens on Etsy and her 

"FREE SHIPPING -Heart Shape-Shea Butter/Cocoa Butter "Honey Almond" Scented Body Bar-Solid Lotion"

For more gift ideas including free shipping go to Funwear and check out the Grizzly Feather Hair Extensions - look for the coupon code at the top of the page! Also stop by Cherokee Magnolias and browse their dolls, doll clothing, sculptures, and native American items!

Wacky Wednesday: Wacky Vintage "Stuff" from Yesterday

     This week, I've enjoyed looking back to "Yesterday" through the amazing array of vintage items available on Etsy. Of course, a LOOK at "Yesterday" wouldn't be complete without a  LISTEN! So click here to listen to  "Yesterday" by The Beattles: http://youtu.be/ONXp-vpE9eU  Beautiful! Boy! Were they hot or what?  I saw Paul McCartney in concert last year and he's still able to make young girl scream....even at 69!

     Ok, now we'll take a LOOK at some wacky vintage "stuff" from Yesterday.  Yesterday's Silhouette is an Etsy shop that describes itself as being "delighted to bring to you some of the very finest, oddest and most interesting vintage finds that Etsy has to offer". That's quite a boast, but this shop can deliver what it promises. One of the "wacky" items they offer is their

"Real Medieval Flail Weapon, Antique Weaponry, Authentic Primitive Cast Iron Spiked Ball & Chain, Collector's Item, Circa 1300-1750 RARE OOA......Check it out here and browse the other wacky and amazing things they offer at http://www.etsy.com/shop/YesterdaysSilhouette

Another of our "wacky" finds comes from the same shop. It's labeled 

"Antique Steampunk Teeth, OOAK Original Dental Cast, Creepy Metal Tooth Sculpture, Antique Dentistry Collectible, 1940's" and is an actual cast of a patient's teeth,circa 1940, complete with her name written on the bottom.  It's a wonderfully unique and "wacky" example of the awesome finds at Yesterday's Silhouette

Connie, the owner of Random Stuff, says she fell in love with crafting and "old stuff" when she spent time as a little girl with her great aunt Abi. One of her wonderfully "wacky" items is 

"Underestimatedly Freaky Weird Vintage Mink Kitty Cat Fur Pin" check it out and check out her other items at http://www.etsy.com/shop/RandomStuff

     Amber Dawn is the owner of Rocket Taco, a vintage Etsy shop full of interesting and unique items. She is an artist who likes to collect interesting vintage "stuff" and instead of letting it collect and get in the way, she likes to pass it on to her customers who benefit from her cheaper prices. One of the weird and "wacky" items in her shop is a 

"Rare Wobbly Fuzzy 1960's Gag Gift Novelty Thing. WEIRD." Browse her shop to check out more of her items at http://www.etsy.com/shop/rockettaco

There are a lot of fun, weird, and "wacky" items to be found on Etsy for collectors of all kinds. While you're browsing around on Etsy, come on over to my shops and take a look!

Cherokee Magnolias 

and

Funwear

Tuesday Teen Review: A Look at Vintage '60s Teens through the Etsy Lens

     I had so much fun with yesterday's post, "Monday, Monday! Vintage '60s on Etsy", that I thought I'd take a look at what that era was like for teens. Of course we will be viewing the era through the lens of what Etsy has to offer from teenage life at that time. But first I thought you'd get a kick out of hearing from one of the bands that came on the scene in the early '60s and continued to successfully add to the popular beach music of that decade.  Here's a fun video of "The Beach Boys"! Take a look at how young they were and check out their matching outfits. Who tailored their pants? Definitely NOT sexy! The boys themselves were pretty cute, though!  
http://youtu.be/mN7Xs9WVNBU.....nice, huh? What did you think of their clapping, head nodding and general movements? It appears to me like they were warned not to move much, but a couple of the guys could barely keep themselves still! The '60s brought a lot of change to the American cultural scene. Here are a few fun facts about this decade:

• Unemployment 3,852,000
• Population 177,830,000
• National Debt 286.3 Billion
• Average Salary $4,743
• Teacher's Salary $5,174
• Minimum Wage $1.00
• Life Expectancy:  Males 66.6 years, Females 73.1 years
• Auto deaths 21.3 per 100,000
• An estimated 850,000 "war baby" freshmen enter college; emergency living quarters are set up in dorm lounges, hotels and trailer camps.
• The post World War II Baby Boom had created 70 million teenagers for the sixties, 
•   Barbie dolls, introduced by Mattel in 1959, became a huge success in the sixties, so much so that rival toy manufacturer Hasbro came up with G. I. Joe, 12 inches tall and the first action figure for boys.
• The Supreme Court decided in Engel v. Vitale, 370 U.S. 421, 1962, that prayer in the public schools was unconstitutional.  
• The Woodstock Festival at which 400,000 young people gathered in a spirit of love and sharing, represents the pinnacle of the hippie movement.

     Teens in the '60s were heavily into music.  They had been introduced to rock-n-roll in the '50s through the Beattles, Elvis, and others and were primed for the "go-go" dancing the decade delivered. The Etsy shop Orbiting Debris got it's name from the owner's tendency to be on the look out for interesting vintage items. She tucks her away whatever she finds into pockets, glove compartments of cars, etc. and calls it her "orbiting debris" as she works to organize it and put each item "where  it goes". She loves to collect and she loves to pass on her "debris" to people who appreciate it and can find the perfect use for it. Her 

"Teen Dance Party - Set of 5 Vintage 60s Teen Dance Party Litho Pictures with Mod-A-Go-Go Big Eye Kids, Signed Lee and Kwatz, Large 20"x16" is a great example of art from the '60s that represents the attitude of the kids and the influence of music and culture. Check out the other vintage items she has at http://www.etsy.com/shop/OrbitingDebris?ref=seller_info   If you find something you like, don't forget to use the coupon code BLOGLOVE and get 10% off!

     

Fresh Dame, another Etsy shop, offers vintage fashions from every decade. Their 

"60s Debu-Teen Mini Day Dress Bright Colorful"  is a classic example of teen '60s fashion. Check out the entire shop at http://www.etsy.com/shop/FreshDame?ref=seller_info

     

 Ismoyo's Vintage Playground is Etsy shop specializing in home, kitchen, toys, children's books and more. You can check them out at http://www.etsy.com/shop/ismoyo?ref=seller_info and while you're there check out their

"Vintage 1960s Romance Comic Magazine Charlton Teen Confessions", it's a great example of '60s teen literature.

Margfar Tuesday Towels is a great little shop with a fascinating collection of vintage '60s "stuff". This shop doesn't focus exclusively on teen memorabilia, but it's one of the places I love to visit because I can completely lose track of time, while browsing through their items. Take a look at what they've got at http://www.etsy.com/shop/margfar  Their 

"Date Line vintage vinyl photo scrapbook" takes me back to the days when scrapbooking was unsophisticated and fun.

     

Monday, Monday! Vintage '60s on Etsy.

    Here's a blast from the past! It's one of those songs that brings back the charm of long, lazy, childhood days, when even "rock-n-rollers", like "The Mama's & The Papa's" were mellow. Just sit back, listen to a song describing Mondays as mellow days, which is pretty hard to imagine in today's fast past lifestyle. http://youtu.be/h81Ojd3d2rY.........wasn't that great! It's fun to check out the color pallet they used for the costumes and stage design. Definitely '60s era fashions and colors. I like their "groovy" dance moves too and the way the lead singer does a "bobble head" type of movement that looks completely fake and uncomfortable.  The clothes look a little star-treky, too. I was four years old when this song came out and remember my cousins playing it on a record player when they baby sat us. I guess that makes me vintage '60s, which brings us to the topic for today's post.....Vintage '60s on Etsy!

     As a little girl, the owner of Firefly Vintage would beg her mother to save the beautiful dresses she wore so that she could have them when she grew up. Her mother would laugh and say that she wouldn't want "those old things" when she got old enough to wear them. Her mother would've never guessed that those lovely 1950's fashions would become one of her greatest passions. She now sells, not only vintage clothing and accessories, but also vintage sewing supplies, books, and anything that is designed with that special flare that is so rarely seen now days.  The following dress was designed by Mister Robert and screams 1960's! The color is popular again, today and it's cool, comfortable and absolutely beautiful. Check is out at www.etsy.com/shop/FireflyVintage

     Atavios Artefacto is a fun little shop that has a wide variety of vintage items. It's only been open since 2010, but has had a lot of success, probably due to the wonderful quality and the uniquely interesting items offered.  The shop currently offers 177 vintage items. One of my favorites is the "Original 60s Vintage Gray AMERICAN TOURISTER Round Travel Case." Be sure to check out their other items at www.etsy.com/shop/ataviosartefacto

OMM Vintage is another great little shop that opened just recently, Sept. 2011! It offers some truly iconic '60s vintage clothing! When I think of the '60s, I think of the fashions that are available at OMM Vintage. The quality of their items can't be beat, either! Their "Vintage MOD 60s 1960s checkered wool vinyl mini shift dress SIZE Small 6 8" is absolutely beautiful and wonderfully '60s. Take a look at it here and then go to www.etsy.com/shop/ommvintage to check out the other wonderful items they offer!

While you're browsing Etsy shops, don't forget to stop by my shops at www.etsy.com/shop/funwear and www.etsy.com/shop/CherokeeMagnolias

Have fun shopping Etsy!

Friday Felt Fun: Needle Felted Amazing Art

     Needle Felting is very popular right now in a lot of crafting circles. People are creating a variety of items, from slippers, to clothing, to handbags, to art, etc. If you're interested in seeing a video describing how its done go to http://youtu.be/SambmLFEYmQ  After watching how its done I'm even more amazed by the following examples of Needle Felted Art on Etsy.  There are some amazing artists out there and the following are just a few of them. 


     Feltoohlala is an Etsy shop owned by Laurence Bergeot Vereb. She's French and creates some absolutely amazing art dolls. She has learned to respect the art of needle felting, living in Hungary, where there is a long history of creating felt objects from felted wool. Hungarians are even known for making and living in large, comfortable tents during their nomadic days. Her "Rose" doll is an example of the amazing work she does.  Check out the rest of her work at www.etsy.com/shop/feltoohlala

Dreamwood Art Designs not only offers "ready to ship" animal art sculptures, but also offers custom felt soft sculptures of the family pet. Sharon, the owner of Dreamwood Art Designs is a fine art graduate who discovered needle felting just a couple of years ago. Now she is creating lifelike miniature sculptures of the family pet. The following is an example of some of her work. Take a look at her other animal sculptures at www.etsy.com/shop/DreamwoodArtDesigns

Like Dreamwood Art Designs, Kays K9s is a shop dedicated to needle felting a variety of animals.  K Stahler says she couldn't live without dogs in her life and currently owns several, as well as a parrot. She has only been needle felting for a year, but her previous experience sculpting with polymer clays prepared her for working with wool. Wool has become her medium of choice and the following photos are examples of her amazing work. Check out her other work at www.etsy.com/shop/KaysK9s 

These are just a few examples of the amazing needle felt art that's available on Etsy! There's plenty more out there. Browse Etsy for all of your needle felting needs and while your there visit my shops at www.etsy.com/shop/funwear and www.etsy.com/shop/CherokeeMagnolias

   

Wacky Wednesday: A Truly Wacky Experience!

     For today's Wacky Wednesday column I decided to search Etsy's handmade shops with the word "wacky".  I didn't really expect to find anything listed as "wacky". I thought that it might have too negative a connotation for sellers to feel comfortable using it. Boy! Was I wrong! There were 29 page results when I  searched the term "wacky". The following recommendations are just a few of the interesting "wacky" items I found during my "wacky" search.

     The shop, Fish e Fish, was created by Terry Mutzel after he noticed a certain wood chip in his pile of wood chips looked sort of like a fish. The wood chip reminded him of a fish because of its pointed mouth and protruding eyes. His vision led him eventually to Etsy because he used it as inspiration for his current series of paintings. Wood chips have now become his canvas. His paintings incorporate "green" living by making use of recycled materials. Take a look at the following freshly hatched fish and then check out the rest at his shop at  www.etsy.com/shop/FisheFish


"Wacky FISH QUOTE - Original Art Print"  

The Tiny Tea House is a shop full of "wacky",  yet wonderful, items! The owner, Daisy May, says she has an insatiable appetite for creative expression, for play and for the joy of life. She designed and created her 

"Teeny Weeny Teaset with a Wacky Wiggly Top" so she could pass some of her inspiration, play, and joy on to others. Check out her other creations at www.etsy.com/shop/TheTinyTeaHouse

Dewi Prihatina, the creative force behind the shop, Outodbox, truly thinks "out of the box"! She loves to design, doodle, read, and dream. That's when she imagines new and innovative ways to reuse and recycle what others call trash, creating some amazing treasures along the way. Her "Wacky Words" is a wonderful way to recycle and re-package.....words. Check out the rest of the items in her shop at: www.etsy.com/shop/outodbox

Whenever its some "wacky" your looking for, browse Etsy! It has plenty of "wacky" for everyone!

While you're there check out the "wacky" and not so "wacky" items at my shops:  www.etsy.com/shop/funwear   and www.etsy.com/shop/CherokeeMagnolias

Tuesday Teen Review: Etsy Offerings for Teen Boys!

There is a ton of merchandise available on Etsy for teen girls. My son recently celebrated his 16th birthday, so I did a little shopping on Etsy to check out what was available for teen boys. I found some really cool items I'd like to pass along.

     The first item comes from the shop Brady Boy Accessories. This little shop is owned and operated by Marike Brady. Marike is Dutch and married to an American. They both reside in Switzerland with their two sons. Marike designs jewelry especially with her boys in mind. As they grow and mature she has watched them develop into the uniquely creative and individual young men they are. Her designs reflect the adventure that life's journey offers them. Her Teen Boy Pebble On Leather Cord Bracelet conveys a little of that adventure with a distinctly masculine appeal. Take a look at it here and check out the entire shop at www.etsy.com/shop/BradyBoyaccessories

Another Etsy shop that has what teen guys are looking for is Geek Things. It is full of cool Tshirts and Hoodies with cool graphics on them. Teen guys love these shirts and you will too. The owner of Geek Things is a self proclaimed geek and loves all geek things! She has been screen printing for 8 years and loves to create shirts, hats, stickers, and just about anything with the "geek" theme.  Check them out at www.etsy.com/shop/geekthings

One of my favorites is their hoodie titled  "Zombie Hoodie Outbreak Response".

My 16 year old loves the Zombie theme of this shirt!

Another favorite from Geek Things is their "Addicted to Gaming Funny Geek Hoodie".  Both of my sons have always been big gamers and could totally identify with this shirt!

My third and final favorite just happens to sell T-shirts too.   Shirohige Custom Shirt sells a lot of Anime or Manga T-shirts which are also popular with my teen son's crowd. If you know someone who is into anime or manga or loves rock-n-roll music, check this shop out at www.etsy.com/shop/shirohige#   I especially like these next two shirts!

"Fullmetal Alchemist transmutation circle japanese Anime manga" 

and 

"Ichigo hollow mask Bleach anime manga japanese":

Whatever your teen guy is into, you'll find it on Etsy!