Sew Upscale

Sew Upscale on Etsy designs and creates original handmade fabric postcard art quilts. Her specialty is landscape and nature post cards. The cards are made by layering fabric to create the design and then stitching each layer. Enjoy a visit to her fabulous shop http://www.etsy.com/shop/SewUpscale.

by Sew Upscale

Since I was a small child, I have loved to sew. Starting with making and designing doll clothes, I have tried all forms of sewing from making a full sized quilt to making pocketbooks, children's clothes and I even made a suit for my husband one time. I am now obsessed with making the quilted fabric postcard art quilts. Landscape postcards are my speciality and I especially am drawn to the mountains. I have tons of fabric and thread but still love to buy more! Other than two quilting classes, I am self taught. My art is also featured in a small gallery in Old Fort, N.C.called The Appalachian Artisan Society Gallery. I was born in Asheville, NC and still live in western NC.

http://www.etsy.com/shop/SewUpscale

French Flea Market ~ I'm Featured on Lollishops Blog

I haven't blogged about my shop before but I would like to share.

I am so excited about my brand new look in my vintage inspired jewelry Etsy shop http://www.afternoongarden.etsy.com/.

It was a lot of fun re-inventing my Etsy shop, quite like renovating my studio space.

Sadie Lou has featured me on her blog  http://lollishops.blogspot.com/2009/12/get-this-look-french-flea-market.html. She has a French, Shabby Chic inspired blog and I think her blog is gorgeous. She also has a website dedicated to the "frou frou friendly marketplace" called Lollishops. Enjoy a visit to her website and etsy shop. Here is the item that was featured. Please have a peek at my new shop and tell me what you think.

 

Please leave a comment and let me know what you think!

Whimsical Holiday Treats

I hope this finds everyone happy and healthy during the holiday season. I thought that you would enjoy these whimsical holiday creations from http://www.emariecreations.etsy.com/. . Enjoy her Holiday Twist Cupcake Pendant: so many holiday colors are included in this pendant- deep red, Christmas green, and white. A green glass bead on top adds a touch of sparkle in the light. This will look so cheery paired with a comfy sweater for the next holiday party.

Hi! My name is Samantha Hartzell and I am a polymer clay artist.I first "discovered" polymer clay around the age of 12 or 13. Now several years later I am hooked! Polymer clay is such a unique clay to work with. The colors are beautiful, from deep crimson reds to brilliant oranges.Because of the wide variety of colors, you can make just about any design you wish!

I first began by making miniature food for my dollhouse, then expanded to more intricate designs, like tea sets and decorated cakes.I turn many of my creations into earrings, push pins, Christmas ornaments, and collectors items.

Most nights you will find me at my kitchen table creating new designs or filling custom orders. I usually try to keep a large selection of colors around so that I have them if a custom order comes in. With all of that clay thing can become a bit disorganized. To cut down on messes and make it easier to find my items I try to keep all of my similar colors together in small plastic baggies, which then go into a covered container.

I store my finished products in a large sectioned plastic container in groups of similar items. That way I can see in a glance what items I have plenty of and which items I need to make more of to sell.To see all of my products or to order a unique, one-of-a-kind gift, please visit my etsy shop www.Emariecreations.etsy.com

Thank you for letting my share more about my craft!

Mee a Bee ~ All That's Cute From Japan

About my shop:

Mee a Bee, all that's cute from Japan.

Who are you?

I'm Jacqui Miyabayashi, a New Zealander living long-term in Japan. I'm stay-at-home mum to two boys aged three and eight.

Tell us about your store and its products:

Mee a Bee is a specialty bag store. I make bags for young children using the best materials available here in Japan. The majority of the fabrics I use are Oeko-Tex certified which means dangerous chemicals are not used in the dyes or treatment. They are deemed non-toxic which important especially for children's goods.My most popular bags are the Little Kids' Messenger bags.

My design is simple. It lets the gorgeous fabrics speak for themselves. I take a lot of time in choosing the best fabrics combining them carefully with the right lining fabrics, straps and even thread.The fabric prints are not character-driven so you won't find the latest television super-hero in my store. Your child's imagination will be enriched with fairytales, pirates or ballerinas. Or perhaps you have a car-obsessed little boy like I do.Buying a Mee a Bee bag you can be assured it is absolutely unique. It was made entirely by hand by a mum (just like you). It was made in Japan - cool! It looks cute and is also functional.

How did the business come about? Shortly after the birth of my second child I started thinking really seriously about starting my own business. Since I had a small baby as well as a child in kindergarten, it needed to be something I could run from home in between my duties as a mum. An online business seemed the obvious direction to go in. I had discovered Etsy which was in the back of my mind. I was not particularly strong in any one area of making stuff although I do consider myself crafty. I was sewing some bags for my son's craft fair when I had a lightbulb moment. I did some research and decided that the area of children's bags would be a great little niche to explore. Living in Japan I have direct access to the amazing textiles produced here. Two years later and I am still really happy with my decision.

Mee a Bee

my blog: http://bloomingnihon.blogspot.com/

Funky and Fun

by ElectricPenguin

The older I get, the more hip and funky I get. Hmmm... is that the true definition of eccentric? About a year ago, I became bored with the jewelry I was finding in stores. Being an I can make/paint/modify/improve that kind of person, I tried my hand at making a few simple pieces. Not difficult and definitely fun! This continued until I had more things than I could ever wear in a year. Oops! So I decided that maybe the world would like my creations as much as I do.

I try to be totally unique, creative, and cool. For example my Beer Beads, which are made from recycled beer labels. I try to use natural materials and earthy colors... but not always (see previous sentence)!

Inspiration strikes at the oddest times - walking through the mall, brushing my teeth, and especially boring work meetings. I always come out of them with little drawings of ideas.My workspace is my kitchen counter, with the overflow taking over the dining room table. Supplies are stored in the china cabinet drawers. Plastic snack bags hold beads sorted by color - very easy to pull out the purple bag and see the bead you want. Findings are in labeled plastic storage containers. The storage system has gone through a few changes, but this works best for me.

Stop by and check out Electric Penguin!! http://www.electricpenguin.etsy.com/

And the shop name?

My husband’s college roommate came up with it while trying to name a band. The band never formed, but I loved the name and it stuck in my head. At last I finally found a use for it!

Chopsticks

Visit etsy artist Marie's gorgeous shop for a special treat http://www.windandrain.etsy.com/ . Many of Marie's creations are in earth shades as she explains, " I have a deep respect for nature, and therefore mimic it in my work." Marie recently started designing elegant chopsticks suitable for your next sushi run, or even to wear in your hair as a fun yet classy addition to attire. NEW: Check out her added rustic decorative gourds!

by WindandRain

My name is Marie, and I live in rural north Alabama. I've been designing chopsticks for nearly 3 years, and even now I'm still surprised sometimes by how they turn out.My studio is a spare bedroom that I have since turned into a craft room. I purchased a 6 foot folding table and placed it beneath a sunny window, with an odd mix of various organizational bins for tools and utensils. If I had to suggest any organizational piece in particular, I'd suggest the Stanley Mobile Work Center, a 2-tier toolbox complete with removable tray and another spin-out project tray for small pieces.

Marie also likes to help out fellow Etsy artists. She features 5 Etsy sellers with less than 30 sales on her blog every week. Why don't you pay this week's 5 features a visit? :)

http://warhandmades.blogspot.com/

Bathgasm

Relax,take a break and some time for yourself! In a busy life it is important to take the time to slow down and care for yourself. It is not always easy to do with a full time job and little ones at home. Enjoy a soothing visit to www.bathgasm.etsy.com.

by Bathgasm

Hi! My name is Alyson, and I am the owner / fizzy maker here at Bathgasm. :) The inspiration for my crazy, colorful bath products actually came to me during a trip to Europe. I visited a small bath product shop in Zurich, Switzerland, and while I loved the idea of their bath bombs, I wasn't impressed with the lack of selection in colors and scents, nor with their high prices! When I got back home, I decided to make my own business with all my ideas for what I would want in a luxury bathing experience. And here I am, making high quality products and loving it! :)My absolute favorite thing about making my luxury bath products is working with my wonderful customers. They have such wonderful and creative ideas, which makes it a tremendous pleasure to create their custom items! Plus, I get to work with my hands in a delicious smelling medium all day. I have a personal mantra that I often have to repeat: "Do not eat the bath bomb, do not eat the bath bomb..."

My fizzy workshop is actually a tremendously large bathroom in my house that has been transformed into a work-only area. It has wonderful natural light from huge windows and comes complete with a huge bathtub so I can do lots of product testing! ;) My wonderful fiance also built fizzy drying racks into a small closet in our home, so not only do I have a great work space, but I have a humidity-free area in which to let my fizzies cure. These steps ensure that your fizzies will be made and stored in clean, well-kept area designed specifically for that purpose. It's too gross when bath products can come into contact with yucky stuff while being made!

In the future, I plan to introduce even more variety into my bath product collection. Bath melts, sugar scrubs, and adorable bath bombs for kids are just a few of the products that I will reveal in the upcoming months. I am also always adding new scents and products based on customer suggestions. Keep checking back at http://bathgasm.etsy.com/ for these new items, as well as my periodic SALES and GIVEAWAYS! :) You can also keep track of Bathgasm news at http://bathgasm.blogspot.com/ and on twitter at http://www.twitter.com/bathgasm. Thanks so much for reading my story!

Cherish Her Gifts

Jean creates handmade items that make people smile. Enjoy a visit to her shops
http://www.amaebi.etsy.com/ and http://www.grimcute.etsy.com/.

by Amaebi

Hi my name is Jean. My husband and I live in the desert with five kooky cockatiels and one adorable puppy. I am currently in medical school, which really eats into me physically and mentally; I craft when I can, because it keeps me sane.I’m crazy about color; I think my favorite color changes every year. It is normal for my desk at home to have tons of unfinished projects and scraps of paper with ideas sitting around on it. Typically I craft on the couch or at my desk while multi-tasking on the computer. I have even taken my yarn to school to crochet in class. It helps me focus, really! I use baskets, sewing bins, and lock-and-lock (airtight) tupper-ware bins to store my supplies and projects. Tiny ziplocks keep all of my individual jewelry pieces from scratching each other, and I have an entire craft box for just doll eyes! My favorite tools are my clear ruler, pliers, and shiny purple aluminum crochet hook (it makes me happy).

My first true craft obsession involved tsumami hana-kanzashi (Japanese floral hair ornaments). Many of my pieces can be seen in my Flickr album collection: http://www.flickr.com/photos/10936702@N07/ From there, I branched out with my main Etsy shop Amaebi Jewelry http://www.amaebi.etsy.com/. I then started a second shop, Grimcute http://www.grimcute.etsy.com/ , which has funky plushies and amigurumi crochet items. Amaebi is more for creating pretty and affordable accessories, while with Grimcute I try to create handmade items that make people smile.

Last year my mom passed away from breast cancer. Sometimes when I remember my crafty mom, who made so many beautiful things (she loved floral arranging and Christmas ornaments), I am too heartbroken to do anything, and at other times crafting is a quiet sanctuary where I can remember her and cherish her gifts. I miss creating with her very much."

Jenny Hoople and Her Bunny

by jennyhoople

My name is Jenny Hoople, my business is Authentic Arts http://www.jennyhoople.etsy.com/ . A few years ago, I saw job's tears for sale in Johnny's seed catalog. The description said that it was a natural bead, so I thought I'd try it out. I ended up with a whole tin of seeds, but they were so light that when I made a necklace with them, the clasp kept coming around to the front. So they sat, unused, in my basement for a few years.

This July, my mom and dad were visiting and my mom, as usual, wanted to stop by a craft store. While I was waiting for her, I kept walking up and down the bead aisle thinking about what would go well with the grey job's tears. I bought a few things and made a necklace. My mom liked it so much that she asked me to make her one, and since I had materials left over, I just tried to come up with as many different designs as I could. Well, when I got done with that, I had to buy more materials and really, I couldn't stop making necklaces! A lot of things were coming together in my life, bringing me to this, so I jumped on it and started selling them. I decided to use knotted silk because I like its history, it's more romantic! I choose "natural" materials (stone, bone, wood, shell, silk) because even when altered by human hands and arranged and strung by them, the beauty of the processes that formed them breaks through and dazzles me. It's so fulfilling to finally be able to use my creative side (B.A. in fine arts, millions of crafty hobbies) as a part of my livelihood. You can see from the picture that my workroom is...the coffeetable in my living room! I sit on the bean-bag chair. Please note the neglected fishtank and my small bunny helper under the table :)





















I've always needed to work and live in the same space, I need to be where the action is!

Cutie Patootie Beads

The name of the featured etsy shop Cutie Patootie Beads came from the term of endearment that the artist called her granddaughters. She writes "they certainly do inspire me, it is wonderful to see something through their eyes." Enjoy a visit to her shop www.cutiepatootiebeads.etsy.com/.

by CutiePatootieBeads

I will start by saying that I use to be a Stained Glass Artisan. I loved the work, but it was very difficult to take with me when I traveled. I looked for something similar, which lead me to Jewelry. All of the different types of jewelry making, the textures and colors were amazing.So I am a self taught Jewelry Artisan, I have been making Jewelry for about 5 years now. I try almost everything I can. My latest project is bead weaving, non-loom. I love it and it is very addicting. My work space is usually the dining room table, but I will bead when and where ever I can.So as long as my fingers and eyes hold out, you will find me beading and making Jewelry somewhere. LOL.

Cash, Barter, A Delicously Intense Stitch

Enjoy a visit to http://waywardradish.etsy.com/ for a wonderful voyage of delightful colours and design.

by waywardradish

Hand embroidery is a very portable art. Needle. Thread. Scissors. Always good for cash or barter. Perfect for a wandering hippie decades ago. Especially one with no clock in her life. Me. Now,though,I have clocks. But this is the calm. A deliciously intense stitch. A bullion knot. A raised cup. A solid square inch can take over an hour. For me, that's fun. Also why I still have a "day job."My Etsy shop focuses on embroidered jewelry. Stuffed earrings, for instance. Tiny or big. All weightless. Pictures never quite convey the smile of them. But seeing them on yourself, on another woman, all wariness goes poof! That I enjoy.

My work space = my couch + my coffee table. My couch is also my photo backdrop. I try to separate my embroidery floss by color but they always end up in a heap. For me, disorder feeds creativity. I expect to have a Collyer Brothers demise under embroidery thread.

Education? Several Erica Wilson crewel kits and her writing. She is my true inspiration.Hope you visit my shop: http://waywardradish.etsy.com/ (double click photos to zoom).To see archival photos of the obsessive denim of my hippie days: http://www.flickr/photos/waywardradish.com

Arion

Arion's Etsy shop is named after the Greek myth. Arion is mentioned in Shakespeare's Twelfth Night, where the Captain reassures Viola that her brother may still be alive after the shipwreck, for "like Arion on the dolphin's back, I saw him hold acquaintance with the waves." Arion is said to be the first and best composer and citharist or lyer-player of his time. On his return from an artistic tour in Italy, he was kidnapped by pirates. Arion sang a praise to Apollo, the god of poetry, and his song attracted a number of dolphins around the ship. Arion threw himself into the sea, but one of the dolphins saved his life. After that, he lived happily ever after and was flourished by his artistic talent. Enjoy a visit to her wonderful shop http://www.arionjewelry.etsy.com/

by Arion Jewelry

Hello, my name is Jihee Kim. I was born and raised in Seoul, Korea. I am the mother of two adorable boys and the wife of a supportive husband. Currently I live in the romantic city, Seattle. I came to the United States for my masters degree in business and worked for an international financial organization for several years in Washington D. C.. I started creating one day when I took a whole day long class of “How to make your Earrings” at the community college with little expectation. After that class, I couldn’t stop making new earrings for my family, friends and myself. The rest is history. My favorite materials are pearls, garnet, ruby, amethyst, peridot, tanzanite and so on. A lot of my jewelry is made with these semi-precious or precious stones with sterling silver.

The best part of making jewelry is creativity. Creating makes me feel great and alive, especially seeing the final creation of one of kind beautiful jewelry with one of the most beautiful materials on earth. My Studio is located in a comfortable and convenient location: my living room. My husband made my studio in the corner of our living room facing the yard outside. In the morning, the sunlight comes deep inside and shines on my studio. It gives me a lot of sunlight, inspiration and energy. Morning is my most favorite time of the day.

There are two desks for my computer and my working area. On the right side of my working area, I put frequently-used tools and materials. There is a black storage box with many small drawers and a brown open basket. The see-through drawer for the findings and brown basket are for my tools. At the back side of my work place, there are two wooden cabinets for storage, one for all my beads and jewelry. The other is for my shipping materials.

On the top of the cabinet, I display some of my creations. Most of my jewelry is stored on the stackable organizer trays inside of the cabinet as shown on the picture.

I started only a short time ago to make my jewelry. Life is full of surprises. I never dreamed to be referred to as a “Jewelry designer”. Recently, I learned how to create jewelry with PMC (precious metal clay) as well as metal smith. I am going to introduce my new jewelry line for PMC hopefully soon. I keep learning and learning. Please watch me grow and evolve through my jewelry creations. Hope to see you at http://www.arionjewelry.etsy.com/ store.

My blog is www.arionjewelry.blogspot.com. Please stop by!

Thank you for viewing my story.